Safety & guidance

Aids & adaptations

We are committed to supporting our residents. If additional changes to your property would help make getting around just that bit easier, we may be able to help.


To help you maintain your independence, we may be able to install mobility aids and adaptations to your home, which can make a big difference to your daily life.

There are two types of adaptations we can install – minor or major. Minor adaptations can include putting in a half-step, fitting electric window openers, and adding grab rails and lever taps, whereas major adaptations require more work and can include level-access showers, wet rooms and stair lifts. 

As a registered housing association, we are not required by law to carry out aids or adaptation works. This is a discretionary service that is decided on a case-by-case basis, and we have a limited annual budget for these works. Sometimes laws, regulations and timescales can prevent us from carrying out certain works. 

Please be assured that we will do what we can to support you. Where more significant changes are needed, we will work with local authority partners and maximise the use of grant funding to do more. If a move to a more suitable home might be in your best interests, we will be clear about the options available, and we’ll provide support every step of the way. 

Due to the high number of adaptations requests we receive; we manage cases by placing them in chronological order based on when we receive the assessments. This ensures fairness and allows us to work through the list systematically. Each case is carefully reviewed and scheduled based on its priority and the resources available to us.

We are unable to provide a fast-track service, as our priority is to ensure that all requests are addressed in the order they are received, while this process may result in some delays, it helps us to manage the high demand as efficiently as possible.


We will not carry out any aids and adaptation works – either major or minor – until an Occupational Therapist (OT) has assessed the needs of the customer. We will only perform major works under a £10,000 threshold (per household for the life of the tenancy). Any works exceeding this amount will require a Disability Facilities Grant (DFG) from your local authority. To find out more about these grants, please click here.


To learn more about aids and adaptations and what we can provide for you, please read our FAQs below.

How can I get a referral from an Occupational Therapist?
To request an Occupational Therapist (OT) assessment, please contact your GP or local authority. Please note that we aren’t legally bound to complete works recommended by an OT’s assessment if the works exceed our financial threshold.
 
What works can Watford Community Housing carry out?
For the full list of major and minor works we will consider, please see our Aids and Adaptations Policy here.

We will not carry out works that involve major structural changes including extensions and through-floor lifts.
Will Watford Community Housing carry out a major adaptation to my home?
Due to the increased cost and workload of installing major adaptations, we may not always be able to provide them. When we receive a major adaptation request, we will first try to move the resident to a more suitable home based on their needs. We offer a financial incentive to residents willing to downsize, and we can help them to move as part of our relocation package.

Properties that are under-occupied by two rooms or more, or where an offer of alternative accommodation has been provided within six months, will not be eligible for major adaptations.

If your application has been accepted, you will be added to our adaptations programme and our Customer Relations Team will reach out to you to explain the process and our current timescales for works.
Can I make any changes myself?
Depending on the complexity of changes, you may be allowed to install some aids and adaptations yourself. To do so, you will need to apply to us to grant you permission to make alterations to your home – please make sure you have received written permission from us before you make any changes. You can find out more about this here: Making changes to your home. You will be responsible for covering the costs of any changes made if granted permission, as well as any future maintenance.
 

For more information on our rules and regulations for aids and adaptations, please see our policy: Aids and Adaptations Policy February 2022


How can I request an adaptation?

To request an adaptation, and for details of the works we can cover and the funding available, please get in touch with us. You can call us on 0800 218 2247 or fill out the form below. 



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