FOI request (FOIR-636941589)

Accessible housing

Requested Wed 07 August 2024
Responded Fri 20 September 2024

As part of a special report looking into accessible social housing available across our region, I would like to make a Freedom of Information request. I look forward to receiving your response within the deadline of 20 working days from today.

Please could you provide the following information regarding your local authority:

1. How many of your social housing units are accessible and adaptable dwellings M4(2) or wheelchair user dwellings M4(3) as of August 2024?

2. How many people are on your waiting list for an accessible and adaptable dwelling M4(2) or a wheelchair user dwelling M4(3)?

3. What is the average waiting time for tenants requiring an accessible and adaptable dwelling M4(2) or a wheelchair user dwelling M4(3)?

4. If the information in questions 1 to 3 is broken down into accessible and adaptable dwelling M4(2) and wheelchair user dwellings M4(3), please could this breakdown be provided?

5. How many social housing units does your council have in total (flats or houses)?

Response

1. The council completed a large scale voluntary transfer of its housing stock in 1996 and subsequently only has a small portfolio of social housing which is used for temporary accommodation. These homes have been purchased from the market and would not meet M4(2) or M4(3) standards.

2. Mobility Level where a property is advertised for applicants with restricted mobility. That is, for Mobility Level 1, 2 or 3, priority will be given to applicants who require this type of property.

Mobility Level 1 - Typically suitable for a person who uses a wheelchair full time, indoors and outdoors. The property will provide full wheelchair access throughout = 28.

Mobility Level 2 - Typically suitable for a person with restricted walking ability and for those that may need to use a wheelchair for some of the time. The property will have internal and external level or ramped access, but some parts of the property may not be fully wheelchair accessible = 35.

Mobility Level 3 - Typically suitable for a person able to manage two or three steps, but unable to manage steep gradients. The property may have adaptations to assist people with limited mobility = 269.

3.

Mobility Level 1 - There have been no Level 1 properties let in the last 12 months.

Mobility Level 2 - There have been no Level 2 properties let in the last 12 months.

Mobility Level 3 - 830 days.

4. Please see above.

5. 42