Find out how legislation affects our disabled facilities grants.
Housing Assistance is offered in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 with the underlying legislation governing the provision of mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) covered by the 1996 Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act. This enables the council to use its discretionary powers to make better use of its limited resources.
The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996: Part 1 as amended by the Disabled Facilities Grant Order 2008 states that the local authority has a statutory duty to provide adaptations to homes for disabled people. Funding for these adaptations is provided through Disabled Facilities Grants.
The Care Act 2014 states that local authorities must provide or arrange services, resources or facilities that maximise independence. The core purpose of adult care and support is to help people to achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their lives. Local authorities must promote wellbeing when carrying out any of their care and support functions in respect of a person. This may sometimes be referred to as ‘the wellbeing principle’ because it is a guiding principle that puts wellbeing at the heart of care and support. The wellbeing principle is intended to cover the key components of independent living.
Disabled Facilities Grant Guidance 2022 states that where the social care authority determines that a need has been established it is their duty to assist, even where the housing authority is unable to approve or to fully fund an application.