Habinteg & Homefinder UK strengthen accessible housing search platform | Latest news

England’s first accessible home rental portal, Accessible NOW, has strengthened its search function to help housing associations ensure they are marketing wheelchair user, and accessible and adaptable homes, to the right clients.

Not for profit national housing mobility scheme Homefinder UK developed the site with the leading social housing provider of accessible homes, Habinteg Housing Association, to help England’s disabled and older home seekers find affordable, accessible social housing.

Key features

The website boasts key features that other property portals may not have, including  crucial accessibility information about features such as wet rooms, step free entrances, parking, location, proximity to shops and transport as well as photos of key areas within the home.

The mother of a wheelchair user, who was able to find a 3 bed wheelchair accessible property through Accessible NOW, said the home was life-changing for the whole family.

“Finding a fully wheelchair-adapted home has completely changed our lives, especially my daughter’s. For the first time, she can move around freely and live with the dignity and independence she deserves.

“The difference this has made is beyond words—simple everyday things that were once a struggle are now possible. Knowing that she can finally have a normal life in a home that meets her needs means the world to us… you have given our family a fresh start.”

Housing associations needed

The platform’s partners are urging all housing associations across England to come together and be part of the growth of Accessible NOW by registering their accessible homes on the site.

Ninesh Muthiah, CEO of Home Connections, the company that operates and manages Homefinder UK, said: “Accessible NOW will help avoid the loss of wheelchair accessible properties in a scenario where housing associations can’t find wheelchair users for the property, and might decide to remove or ignore the accessibility features and earmark the property for general needs occupation instead.”

English Housing Survey data shows that around 400,000 wheelchair users are living in homes that are neither designed for nor adapted to their needs, and only 9% of English homes have even the most basic accessibility features.

Long term impact

Christina McGill, Habinteg’s Director of Social Impact and External Affairs, said for the portal to fulfil its potential, housing associations needed to get on board.

“We’re really pleased to have played a part in developing the Accessible Now service based on feedback we’ve had from disabled people about their house hunting experiences.

“As social landlords we all want to make the biggest impact in our communities so it’s really important that we ensure that homes designed to accessible standards, or places that have been adapted, are offered to tenants who really need those features.

"Listing properties on Accessible Now is a great way to ensure a really positive long term impact from accessible properties.”

Housing associations wanting to register their homes on the portal should visit homefinderuk.org/accessible-now-channel to register or email landlords@homefinderuk.org for more information.