How long does the adaptation process take?

First one of our Occupational Therapists must assess your needs. Your needs will be summarised in a care plan, which sets out what actions will be taken to assist you.

The Occupational Therapist will then make a recommendation to the appropriate organisations informing them of your need for a specific adaptation.

If a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is likely to be required they will issue you with a Preliminary Test of Resources form which you return to your district council. This will allow the level of any financial contribution you may have to make to be assessed.

Timescales for major adaptations will vary depending on the complexity and scale of the project. This will include any design and planning issues. We in partnership with the district councils are setting up a new Major Adaptations Database to assist you to track the progress of your adaptation. You will be given a pin number to access this database when you reach the appropiate stage of the process.

Council owned accommodation
Upon receipt of the recommendation your district council will agree a priority for the work. This will then progress at a rate determined by the district council which will take into account urgency of your situation, the scale and complexity of work to be undertaken.

Privately owned or rented or housing association
Your district council is required to give a decision on a grant application within six months of receiving the formal application.

Works funded by the grant have to be put out to competitive tender and we have a list of approved contractors who will undertake the work. However, in certain circumstances it is possible that people can engage a builder of their choice. The work undertaken would still have to meet the required standards and the grant cannot be used retrospectively to fund work already commenced.

The district council (opens in a new window) may be able to supply you with an information pack, including a step-by-step procedural document.