Scottish Government

3. REPORTING ON PROGRESS TOWARDS DISABILITY EQUALITY IN HOUSING

Introduction

3.1 Housing is an area of major concern for many disabled people, with both accessibility and adaptability of properties being key issues. Housing issues in relation to disability assume significant importance given that roughly a third of all households include a disabled person (Scottish Executive 2004d). In addition older people make up over half of all households, often acquiring impairments later in life which has implications for the adaptability and usability of their accommodation. The Disability Equality Duty has important implications in relation to housing for disabled people, given the housing profile in Scotland and also the major role played by the public sector. Given this and the significant references to housing policy in recent legislation and in policy documents such as the Disability Rights Commission's Disability Agenda and the Scottish Government's Disability Working Group Report, it was considered important that housing was selected as a key focus area for reporting on progress towards disability equality.

Background: wider policy context and evidence

Wider policy context

3.2Thehousing profile of disabled people in Scotland is somewhat different to that of non-disabled people. Nearly half of all disabled people rent, mainly from social housing providers (see below), whilst over half of non-disabled people own or are buying their properties. There are requirements in many cases for equipment and adaptations to assist in making housing useable and suitable for disabled people. The past six years have seen greater attention to and some progress in relation to housing and disability equality.

3.3 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ( DDA), placed duties on those managing and/or disposing of premises, including landlords, not to discriminate against disabled people by treating them less favourably for a disability-related reason. However the Act did not cover issues regarding physical access to homes ; such issues instead come under the Building Regulations.

3.4 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 included a requirement on local authorities and social landlords to promote and observe equal opportunities, including disability (Office of Public Sector Information, 2001).

3.5 In 2002, Communities Scotland (then Scottish Homes) published an important document Housing for Varying Needs (Communities Scotland, 2002a). This document followed a request from the Scottish Office on updating guidance from the 1970s on housing for disabled people and also from an inquiry into housing by Disability Scotland, known as the Ewing Inquiry. The principal driver was to look at how housing for disabled people could be mainstreamed and to consider 'barrier free' housing. Communities Scotland also sought to put in place a series of measures and performance indicators for registered social landlords ( RSLs) on implementing the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 equalities requirements (see sections below on research into progress by RSLs 3.15, 3.20, 3.25).

3.6 The Scottish Government operates a Special Needs Capital Grant for private or voluntary organisations to provide housing for people with particular needs. This has also been utilised to provide support for Ownership Options in Scotland in helping owner-occupier households with disabled persons to access suitable housing.

3.7 A new building standards regime in Scotland was introduced via the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. This Act had two major policy implications with regard to disability equality. Firstly, it gave Ministers the ability to introduce regulations on suitability and accessibility of accommodation for disabled people. Secondly, by changing the structure of building systems, it included the need for buildings to be designed to consider the safety, welfare and convenience of building users including disabled users (Office of Public Sector Information 2003).

3.8 The Building Act led to new building regulations and guidance on building and inclusiveness and encouraged builders and developers to think of ways of helping people developing impairments to remain in their homes. The Building Standards Handbook stated that:

'an inclusive environment is one within which everyone, regardless of age, disability or circumstance, can make use of safely, conveniently and without assistance to the best of their ability. Buildings that consider future flexibility of use also contribute to the creation of a more sustainable housing stock, simplifying alterations' (Scottish Government 2008d).

3.9 The Guidance on the Building Standards pointed out that an 'inclusive approach to design should be taken to ensure that buildings are as accessible to as wide a range of people as possible' (Scottish Government 2008d). Since the implementation of the Act, there has also been further progress with amendments in 2007 to the Building Regulations setting out that all new built homes must have accessible toilet facilities on the principal living floor and that sanitary facilities be of 'liveability standard' and have enhanced apartment and accessible kitchen spaces (Scottish Government 2008d) ³.These standards have been developed to take further the recommendations of two key documents on accessibility of housing for disabled people, Lifetime Homes⁴ (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2007) and Housing for Varying Needs (See paragraph 1b.5).

3.10 This approach has also been taken further with the publication by the then Scottish Building Standards Agency and the then Scottish Executive of a Planning Advice Note ( PAN) in 2006 (Scottish Executive 2006f) on inclusive design. The PAN was aimed at the range of people involved in the design and building process, as well as a means of assisting organisations to meet their duties under the Disability Equality Duty.

3.11 In 2005, the Scottish Executive published Homes for Scotland's People which sought 'to provide the assistance that will enable elderly or vulnerable people to continue to live independently in their own homes' ⁵. The document also set out a new 'Homestake' scheme aimed at a shared equity approach to supporting house purchase, in conjunction with housing associations. This scheme is aimed at first time buyers but is also targeted at disabled people ⁶ (Scottish Executive 2005a). Homes for Scotland's People also advocated disabled people's inclusion in tenant associations.

3.12 From December 2006, as a consequence of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, both private and social landlords have had new duties to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, as will those who control or manage rented property. The duties mean that landlords will have to, depending on the circumstances, make the following reasonable adjustments: change practices, policies and procedures, provide auxiliary adaptations and services or change a term of a letting when requested to by a disabled person (or by someone on their behalf). This could include making reasonable adjustments to tenancy information for a disabled tenant (Office for Public Sector Information 2006a).

3.13 Changes brought about by the Equality Act 2006 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (see Office for Public Information 2006b) introduced a new provision whereby private sector landlords could not unreasonably refuse requests by disabled tenants to make adaptations to rented properties. The tenant is responsible for paying for the alterations and must ask the landlord's permission, which should not be unreasonably refused. (The right extends to common parts - but a tenant would also have to get the permission of the other owners of the common parts as well as the landlord). The provisions in the Equality Act 2006 enable the Equality and Human Rights Commission to issue Codes of Practice on the new provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 referred to above.

3.14 In addition, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 clarified and updated provisions with regard to the provision of grants and loans by local authorities for the adaptation of disabled peoples' homes to make them suitable for their use (see Office for Public Sector Information 2006 b - Sections 71-73). The main detail of the changes is contained in Regulations approved by the Scottish Parliament in November 2008. The intention is to create a simpler and fairer system of financial assistance with adaptations. The changes include abolition of the prescribed test of resources and setting a minimum grant of 80% for qualifying works, or 100% for people receiving specified income replacement benefits.

3.15 The Scottish Housing Regulator (previously part of Communities Scotland) regulates social landlords and their responsibilities include inspection of the extent to which landlords include equalities aspects in information as well as on physical access to properties. The registered social landlord sector ( RSL) is of growing importance, given both the high proportion of disabled people renting, and the increase in the number of accessible properties of varying accommodation standards in the RSL sector. Whilst the number of properties in the local authority sector has decreased, the number in the RSL sector has increased. In addition, as there has been a recent increase in the numbers of new properties, which have outstripped the numbers being sold under right-to-buy legislation (Communities Scotland 2008), there has been an increase in the number of accessible RSL properties over the past 20 years. The Scottish Government has recently set a target that 95% of all new RSL properties funded via Government should be built to varying standards (see Scottish Government 2008c - also below under progress).

Research and statistical evidence

Introduction

3.16 This section sets out evidence of the position of disabled people in relation to housing and evidence of patterns of tenure and accessibility, suitability and usability of properties as well as of the extent of availability of equipment and adaptations. Key sources of evidence include the Scottish Household Survey, information from the then Communities Scotland, and studies by ODS Consulting and Reid Howie Associates into housing and disability.

Housing profile

3.17 The Scottish Household Survey 2005 shows that a third of households have a disabled person or a person with long-term illness living in them (Scottish Executive 2006a). It also found that households with at least one member with a disability or a long-term illness are more likely to be older smaller (two adult) or single pensioner households, and as a consequence disabled households are much less likely to have children living in them (only 16% of households with one or more members with a disability and 18% of households with one or more members with a long-term illness have children. This compares with more than 30 per cent of non-disabled households).

3.18 As regards tenure and ownership, disabled people are more likely to rent than own their properties by comparison with the overall population, with nearly half of households with a disabled person in them being rented properties, whereas 65% of non-disabled people either own or are buying their homes through a mortgage. Where disabled people rent, they are more likely to be doing so from a social housing landlord, with only around 6% renting from a private landlord (by comparison with 20% of the non-disabled population), and three quarters do so from a local authority - see table 1.1 below (Scottish Executive 2004d also Scottish Executive 2003b). As a consequence, disabled people are less likely to have a mortgage than non-disabled people, and there may also be a link with disabled people's incomes, in that a significant percentage of disabled people live in households with incomes below £10,000.

Table1.1 Types of rented properties by type of household and disability status

(Source: Scottish Household Survey 2002)

3.19 The Scottish Household Survey also shows that disabled people are much more likely than non-disabled people to be living in a bungalow, maisonette or ground floor flat than non-disabled people, with over 50% of disabled people living in such accommodation (Scottish Executive 2004d). Disabled people are more likely than non-disabled people to stay longer in their homes, with 33% of disabled adults having lived in their home for more than 20 years, while only 20 per cent of adults without a disability or long-term illness have lived in their current residence for that period. This and the older age profile amongst disabled people may partly explain why disabled people are more likely to live in older properties.

Access, suitability and usability of housing

3.20 Disabled people are more likely to be living in rented accommodation, particularly social housing, than non-disabled people. There has been a growth in the number of accessible/adapted special needs housing over the past 20 years, with a rise from 4,030 dwellings in 1980 to 29,227 in 2002 and 36,000 in 2008. The proportion of specially adapted RSL properties varies by local authority ranging from 5% in Glasgow and Shetland to nearly 35% in Stirling, Moray and Orkney, with a median average of 19% (Communities Scotland, 2008 and Scottish Executive, 2004).

3.21 Whilst the number of houses built to accommodate different needs has grown, the number of wheelchair accessible properties remains low. In 2002/03, there were 170 new social housing wheelchair accessible properties, and this figure had risen to 200 new build properties built in 2006/7 ⁷. Less information is available on the number of adaptations to private rented accommodation. Latest statistics from the Scottish Government for public sector and social needs housing show that the there were some 31,308 adapted properties listed see table 1.2 (Scottish Government 2008e). In addition the returns from local government and Communities Scotland show some 1691 homes for elderly people which are wheelchair accessible.

Table 1.2 Housing for people with physical disabilities

Source: Scottish Government Housing Statistics for Scotland 2008

Equipment and adaptations

3.22 With regard to equipment and adaptations in the home, the 2005 Scottish Household Survey (Scottish Executive 2006a) found that the item of equipment most needed by disabled people was a handrail (required by over 22%) followed by adapted bath seats and stair lifts (17%) see table 1.3 below. There was increased need as people became older, with 8% of 16 to 24 year old disabled people surveyed reporting that they required additional adaptations, rising to 21% of 60 - 75 year olds and 20% of those in the 75+ age group (of whom 56 percent already had adaptations).

Table 1.3 Availability and need of adaptations/and equipment in the home by type

(Source: adapted from Scotland's People: results from 2005 Scottish Household Survey - note percentages add to more than 100 as some people had multiple needs).

3.23 A study for Communities Scotland found that, in the majority of cases, people with low level support needs had their equipment and adaptations provided by their local authority and found this worked well but ' …for others delays in installing equipment and adaptations had a disproportionately negative impact upon their daily lives' (Communities Scotland 2003a). The study also found that people who received low level support directly from their landlord were not clear whether they could change the arrangement and the options they were given if they wished to move to more suitable accommodation were often limited to alternatives provided by their existing housing provider.

Social landlords

3.24 In 2002, Communities Scotland published a study of social landlords and the extent to which they incorporated equality into their processes and implemented the requirements of the Housing Act 2001. It concluded that whilst some were making good progress a number had considerable progress still to make. Good progress had been made in the areas of consultation with stakeholders, including equalities groups; providing fair services and fair employment and governance. Areas for improvement included gathering information about their diverse communities; setting SMART objectives and targets to address disparities in outcomes and collecting the right monitoring information to track progress (Communities Scotland, 2002b).

3.25 This study was revisited in 2006 (Communities Scotland, 2006). This study showed that there had been progress since the 2002 Study with most RSLs having published equalities policies, and an increased number (48%) had information on disability equality issues; a significant majority consulted people who understood disability issues (90%) and 96% had information in place for disabled service users. However, the study found weak progress against target setting and just less than half of all landlords feeling that they had made progress in employment issues regarding disability. In addition the study found that little progress had been made in regard to developing data and evidence regarding equality.

Supporting independent living

3.26 In 2004, a new system of funding to support people to live independently was introduced. This funding, known as Supporting People Funding, assisted 5,600 physically disabled people to live independently in the community (see Scottish Executive 2004e and 2007b), as a result of the provision of a variety of additional services, ranging from alarm services to equipment and adaptations. The number of disabled people receiving funding for home support services appears to have increased substantially over the following two years as the following table 1.4 shows (though there may be some double counting in the figures as some people may have more than one impairment and fall into more than one category and there were some differences in reporting methods by local authorities). Responsibility for Supporting People Funding has now passed to local authorities under the local government Concordat, which is referred to in greater detail in the report on the finance and sustainable growth portfolio.

Table 1.4 Number of clients receiving housing support by client group: Scotland, 2004-05 and 2005-06

(Source: Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin Housing Series HSG/2007/4: Supporting People Client Statistics, 2005-06)

Tenant participation

3.27 A study by Reid Howie Associates for the Disability Rights Commission looked at tenant participation and involvement of disabled people (Reid Howie/ DRC 2007a). It was based on analysing progress since the Housing Act (Scotland) 2001, which placed an obligation on local authority and Registered Social landlords to develop tenant participation strategies. The report noted a paucity of data in this area but also some aspects of good practice, with most organisations making a commitment to the inclusion of disabled people and with some examples of guidance, training and data collection.

3.28 Constraints on involvement arose from the level of priority given to disabled people, a lack of mainstreaming, methods of fulfilling duties under the DDA 1995 and limited information gathering and monitoring systems. The report also recommended that there was a need for involvement of disabled people in tenant participation in strategic documents such as disability equality schemes and tenant participation strategies.

Information and young people

3.29 A study of young disabled people's housing experiences and aspirations in Scotland in 2003 found that most respondents wanted to leave their parental home in their teens or twenties, and that the principal barrier they experienced was not having information about their housing choices (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2003).

Local housing strategies

3.30 A study by ODS Consulting for the Disability Rights Commission ( ODS 2007) looked at Local Housing Strategies, which each local authority has had to have in place since 2003. The study was based on an analysis for Communities Scotland ⁹. The study showed that just over half of local authorities had researched the housing needs of people with physical disabilities, whereas three authorities' strategies contained no information in relation to people with physical disabilities. Six out of the 32 local authorities had consulted people on their strategies and most (71%) had actions to improve service provision for physically disabled people.

3.31 As regards people with a learning disability, the research showed that two thirds of authorities included information on people in their locality with a learning disability, but six authorities did not mention the needs of people with a learning disability and only five had involved people with learning disabilities when developing their strategy. The survey concluded that there had been some progress since 2004 with fourteen authorities improving their understanding of the housing needs of people with learning difficulties and eight authorities commissioning research into needs.

Homelessness

3.32 It would appear that disabled people are more likely to have experienced homelessness than non-disabled people. Of people who have ever experienced homelessness, 6.5% reported having a disability or long-term illness in 2003-2004. This compares to 3.3% of non-disabled people, or people without a limiting long-term illness (Scottish Executive 2006c) ¹⁰. The number of applications by disabled people making a homelessness application for priority housing to local authorities doubled from 700 to 1400 applications between 1992 and 2002/3. Since that time the numbers of applications have remained relatively constant (Scottish Executive 2006c).

REPORTING ON PROGRESS TOWARDS EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY

Areas where progress is evident

Introduction

3.33 Housing issues for disabled people appear to be on the disability equality agenda of a majority of local authorities in Scotland, with two-thirds (22 authorities) making reference to actions on housing for disabled people within their Disability equality schemes, action plans and annual reports. During 2006/7, Communities Scotland (which is now part of the Scottish Government) also made progress on developing the regulatory framework for social housing for disabled people and in standard setting for new built accommodation. Actions by local authorities ranged widely and covered a multitude of issues from attention to inclusive design to adaptation policies and information availability, suggesting different emphases and starting points, which is indicated by the number of authorities which are reviewing or assessing their housing strategies.

Accessibility and Local Housing Strategies

3.34 Attention and thought to the approach towards housing for disabled people and the needs for greater accessibility in housing appeared to be included in a considerable number of local authority disability equality schemes. Ten councils set out to develop new strategies, or review existing housing strategies to ensure that disability issues had been included. These included Glasgow City, South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire Councils reviewing options such as how to approach investment for increasing accessible housing. Inclusive design and the setting of standards for developers and builders were on the agenda of six authorities (Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire, Clackmannanshire, Inverclyde, Midlothian and North Lanarkshire).

The Scottish Government has recently issued guidance on undertaking housing need and demand assessments, preparing local housing strategies and strategic housing investment plans which emphasizes the importance of disability equality and establishes a clear framework within which local authorities are to assess the specific housing requirements of disabled people, outline their strategy for meeting these needs and set out any specific capital investment requirements. There are provisions for each part of the framework to be assessed with regard to their inclusion of disability equality and the general effectiveness of the framework in addressing disability equality will be kept under review by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration Directorate's action plan includes a commitment to review the effectiveness of housing need and demand assessment guidance in helping local authorities identify the requirements of specific household groups, including disabled people.

3.35 These issues were also priorities for Communities Scotland (now the Scottish Government Housing Directorates) as the lead body with regard to the development of social housing. During 2006/07, 96% of the 7,100 new social housing approved for funding by Communities Scotland was due to be built to accommodate people with varying needs. In addition, Communities Scotland also revised its regulatory inspection framework to ensure that housing providers were expected to be more responsive to the needs of disabled people. Linked to this, it also published guidance and self assessment questions for landlords on equalities including disability equality (Scottish Government 2007c).

3.36 The Scottish Government disability equality scheme sets out a number of actions to take further accessibility of housing and inclusion of disability equality considerations by local authorities and social landlords. These include setting a further target of 95% for all new build housing funded by the Government to be of varying needs standards and actions on adaptations (see paragraph 3.40 below). The Government scheme also identifies utilising guidance on local housing strategies and to Community Partnerships to emphasize the importance of disability equality and to build it into the funding regime. (Scottish Government 2007c)

Homelessness

3.37 The Scottish Government Scheme sets out an objective of creating greater flexibility in enabling local authorities to discharge their responsibilities towards homeless people including towards disabled homeless people. This is aimed at widening the definition of who is likely to be deemed homeless and extending access to future accommodation, including the private sector. In addition the data collection system for local authorities on homelessness has been updated to enable monitoring of the support needs of disabled people who become homeless.

3.38 Some local authority schemes make reference to homelessness and disabled people. Argyll and Bute and Dundee City Council had ensured their homelessness team had received equality training, Falkirk and Renfrewshire had impact assessed their homelessness strategies, Inverclyde Council had created a working group on homelessness and equality.

Equipment and adaptations and housing services

3.39 An area of consideration and progress was to be found in regard to the development of housing services. Three authorities specifically reported supporting Disabled People's Housing Services, whilst eight authorities placed emphasis on adaptations and accessibility of properties. This included the development of databases of accessible properties (Aberdeenshire) and a common housing register (Glasgow City), as well as reviews of allocations policies and processes (Perth and Kinross, South Lanarkshire and Stirling). Interestingly, four local authorities specifically mentioned work with the private sector on adaptations issues and/or on ownership issues (Aberdeen City, Dundee, Shetland Islands and South Ayrshire) and two authorities had carried out reviews of their existing processes to ensure that they included disability equality considerations (Dundee City and Inverclyde).

3.40 In Spring 2008, the Scottish Government consulted on plans to extend the scope of mandatory grants for adaptations, abolish the prescribed test of resources and award automatic minimum grants of 80% for qualifying works, rising to 100% for people in receipt of certain income replacement benefits. The consultation also encouraged a local authority-wide approach to assessing and meeting the needs of disabled people. Regulations setting the changes were approved by the Scottish Parliament in November 2008.

3.41 In addition the scheme sets out a review of the Housing Allocations policy, which will look at current social housing allocation requirements. This will be followed by an Equality Impact Assessment, and if it is deemed required, a new set of guidance for social housing providers will be produced.

Progress being made on impact assessment

3. 42 There are a range of responsibilities on local authorities with regard to their housing functions, including under the 1987 Housing Scotland Act regarding homelessness. A number of local authorities had undertaken or were planning to impact assess their housing policies in relation to disability equality. Different authorities adopted different approaches to impact assessment, with some devising their own specific toolkits. Some looked at key aspects of the housing process such as housing allocation policies and application procedures and policies. The Scottish Government Scheme sets out a number of proposals for impact assessing new housing policies including the development of policy on the value of social housing, housing allocations policy and the Homepoint information and advice standards. These plans follow the completion of an equality impact assessment into homelessness policy which showed a positive impact on disabled people.

Summary of where progress is evident

3.43 Two-thirds (22 authorities) made reference to actions on housing for disabled people within their disability equality schemes, action plans and annual reports. There was evidence of progress from Communities Scotland (which is now part of the core Government) in developing the regulatory framework for social housing for disabled people and in standard setting for new built accommodation. Actions by local authorities ranged widely and covered a multitude of issues. These included:

• attention to inclusive design and adaptations policies
• impact assessment of housing allocation policies
• a significant number of reviews of housing strategies either completed or scheduled

Areas where progress is less evident

Reporting

3.44 A third of local authorities did not report activity on housing in their schemes or action plans, despite clearly specified local authority duties and the importance of he issue to disabled people's well-being. This may be due, in some authorities, to underreporting, with a need for activity to be recorded in the development of future disability equality schemes. However, for others there may be a need for greater awareness of the relevance of housing issues to disability equality. Overall, it was surprising that such a significant minority made little or no reference to housing.

3.45 The review of schemes and action plans suggests that authorities are developing different strategies depending on the circumstances of their relevant populations. In addition, some authorities are much further forward in this area than others, although there is no clear pattern linked to geography. Having said this, more authorities with rural bases failed to make reference to housing in their Schemes (7 out of 11). In addition, with some notable exceptions, there was little data and evidence given in disability equality schemes and annual reports on housing. Many local authorities will have undertaken research into disability and housing for their local housing strategies however, little detailed data was included and only a few local authorities reported on involving disabled people in housing issues.

Tenant support and tenant participation

3.46 Only a minority of local authorities reported progress on supporting tenants and encouraging participation in housing policy development. This would appear to be similar to the findings of the research by Reid Howie 2007 into tenant participation by disabled people. Three authorities in their Disability Equality Action Plans stated an intention to review information and support packages for disabled tenants (Dundee, Stirling and Falkirk Councils). Two authorities listed work directly on disabled tenant satisfaction work (Perth and Kinross and West Lothian) and two listed plans (East and West Lothian) for the development of tenant participation strategies which included disabled people and four authorities had developed initiatives to encourage disabled people to become involved in tenant issues and groups (Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, Mid-Lothian and South Ayrshire). Noteworthy also were the actions of four authorities in developing procedures for dealing with harassment against disabled tenants (Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire).

Summary of where progress is less evident

3.47 A minority of local authorities made no mention of housing issues in their disability equality schemes. In addition, there was overall little data and evidence provide on housing and disability equality in schemes and annual reports. Tenant participation and support was only mentioned by a minority of local authorities.

Categories of impairment groups mentioned in disability equality schemes

3.48 The impairment category most referred to within disability equality schemes regarding housing was physical disability, given concerns by local authorities and Communities Scotland to improve physical access to accommodation. Communities Scotland and the Scottish Government Housing Directorate had sought to take a broad approach by emphasising inclusive design. This approach was also evident in a number of authorities ( e.g. Glasgow City Council and South Ayrshire, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire) which were looking at investment plans and inclusive design issues, and one authority (Aberdeen City Council) which also specifically mentioned the need to take the needs of older disabled people into account, and in the case of one authority (Aberdeenshire Council) the needs of people with sensory impairment.

Involvement and consultation

3.49 A number of local authorities reported involving and consulting disabled people over housing in the formation of the disability equality schemes including Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Renfrewshire and Orkney. A few local authorities also specifically mentioned the development of housing fora and Working Groups on housing and disability issues (Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire Councils) as part of the development of their schemes and on-going housing work. The fora and the development of local housing strategies included disabled people and/or their representatives, and in one case the housing working group was in the process of establishing an accessibility policy for its services. South Lanarkshire also reported organising events on housing for people with learning disabilities and their carers. A particular area for involvement of a minority of authorities in regard to disabled people was over tenant participation strategies (see para.3.46 above). Two authorities (Perth and Kinross and West Lothian Councils) reported undertaking specific engagement with disabled tenants, including ensuring they were included in tenants satisfaction work.

Summary and Conclusion

3.50 Whilst it is clear that disability housing issues are on the agenda of a majority of local authorities, a third of authorities did not include disability equality in housing within their schemes and action plans. There appears to be variety in the approach and emphasis of local authorities in taking forward disability housing issues, which may arise from different starting points. The linkage between housing and equipment and adaptations in several plans was encouraging, but this still applied to a minority of schemes. Communities Scotland, now within the Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration Directorate, has put in place some strong mechanisms and guidance on housing for the RSL network (which will be overseen by the new Scottish Housing Regulator) and the legislative framework has moved forward reasonably rapidly over the past five years.

3.51 It would appear from local authority disability schemes and plans that there is considerably more that some authorities could do in promoting disability equality through their housing services. Key areas include developing Common Housing Registers listing accessible properties, tenant participation, inclusive design and adaptations of properties. Areas that received little mention in plans included information for tenants on a range of issues including grants and loans for adaptations.

3.52 Whilst several authorities had taken a strategic approach towards disability equality in housing for disabled people, authorities which have not yet done so might utilise the opportunity of the upcoming revision of disability equality schemes in 2009 to develop a more integrated and strategic approach. In addition there is considerable scope for joined up approaches between local housing strategies and disability equality schemes.