4.1 Interviewee characteristics in Central Scotland Name Location Tenure Type of House Age Group Child's Impairment Alice City Housing association House Disabled parent with teenage disabled Mental health condition Beth City Private rent Ground flat Disabled retired Carrie City Owned House Family with disabled child Indoor wheelchair user Donna City Housing association Ground flat Disabled retired Emma Rural Owned House Family with disabled child Indoor wheelchair user Fiona City Council housing Bungalow Disabled retired Geana Rural Private rent Upper flat Disabled middle years Harry City Housing association Upper flat Disabled adult middle years Isobel City Ground flat Disabled young adult Jill City Housing association Bungalow Disabled retired Ken Private rent House Disabled adult middle years Liz City Housing association Ground flat Disabled middle years Max Rural Housing association Upper flat Disabled
middle years Nina City Council housing Ground flat Disabled young adult Orla City Council housing Bungalow Family with disabled adult Indoor wheelchair user Peter City Council housing Bungalow Disabled retired Quinton Rural House Disabled retired Rob City Housing association Upper flat Disabled middle years Sarah City Council housing Ground flat Disabled adult middle years Tina City Council housing Ground flat Disabled middle years Victor City Private rent House Disabled adult middle years ownership
participants had had different experiences of securing adaptations to their homes; many delivered positive reports but others detailed processes that had negative effects. Many participants reported having found the welfare benefit system confusing and frustrating. The interviewees Table 5.1 summarises characteristics of the interviewees. All names are pseudonyms. Table 5.1 Interviewee characteristics in South Wales Name Location Tenure Type of House Age Group Child's Impairment William City Private rented sector Ground flat Disabled adult middle years Zack City Housing association Ground flat Family with disabled child Physical Unity Owned Bungalow Disabled person retired Zoe City Housing association Upper flat Disabled middle years Council Bungalow Disabled adult middle years Alex City Housing association Upper flat Disabled adult middle years Diane City Private rented sector Upper flat Disabled adult middle years Mike City Housing association Room in shared flat Disabled adult middle years
DFG provides adaptations up to a maximum of £30,000 in England. There is a test of resources for adults, but not for families with children and young people under 18. There is no duty for housing authorities to fund more than £30,000, but social care may top up funding in some cases. Flexibility in use of the DFG is allowed under the 2008 Regulatory Reform Order, but authorities must have an approved, written policy. Only about half of authorities have developed these plans and not all give tested grants. Yes Means-test does not take account of mortgage payments, so the test of resources is less generous to younger owners who may not be able to afford to contribute to costs. Yes Private tenant Yes Proves difficult to deliver if the landlord does not agree to the work being carried out, if adaptation is expensive but there is no security of tenure, or if the landlord insists on the local authority agreeing to remove the adaptation when the tenancy changes hands. Yes Local authority tenant No Use the DFG criteria, but funding usually provided through the Housing Revenue Account not the DFG. Sometimes delivered by a separate team but often combined with DFG teams. Some adaptations were also done as part of Decent Homes work but this was not a requirement of the Decent Homes legislation and not always well-co-ordinated. Most No means