Scott Whitney: ‘A lack of accessible homes means I'm facing homelessness again’ | Policy blog

Disability rights advocate Scott Whitney is the founder of All4Inclusion which organises online events to bring disabled people together to offer education, friendship, mental health support, and a sense of community. Below, he shares his struggle to find a wheelchair accessible home to rent in Manchester for Accessible Homes Week to show how raising the accessibility level of all new homes to the M4(2) accessible and adaptable homes would help disabled people.

I’m facing homelessness for the second time in two years. I’m in a private rented home in central Manchester but I may have to go back into temporary accommodation since my local council says it may not have the budget to continue to pay for a portion of my rent. My contract ends in a few weeks, but I’m in limbo until the council makes its decision.

I spend my life helping other disabled people through my social enterprise work, but when it comes to my life it feels like I’m being slammed into a brick wall. A more fitting analogy would be to turn up to a viewing of an accessible property, only to find it’s up a set of steps.

My struggle to find a suitable home has the knock-on effect of placing worry on my parents, children and friends. It also places difficulties on my health and my carers and makes it harder for me to be able to support others as well.

Locked out of rental market

I have many privileges in life. I have an income. Yes, I have some debt, but in comparison to some people, it's fairly low. When I was able to work full time, my earnings were very close to the national average.

With all this privilege, why am I having trouble with housing?

It comes down to one thing - I'm a wheelchair user. Actually, let's flip that - the UK has a huge shortage of properties that are suitable for me and my needs.

Whilst this shouldn't be a "me" problem, I'm the one who suffers.

Fight to find a suitable home

The private rental market in Manchester where I live is terrible. It’s a city where rental properties go extremely quickly. 

When I became homeless in 2023, I was told that it would be better for me to look for a home in the private rental market and get some support from my local authority, than wait for a socially rented wheelchair home to become available.

I was placed in a hotel as temporary accommodation and told to pack light as I’d only be staying there for a few days. When I left five months later, it was a huge weight off my shoulders, but I also felt sad for disabled people who have been in accommodation like this for over three years. 

During this time, the Homelessness Team supporting me kept emailing me properties that they had deemed “suitable”, but where I wouldn't be able to wash myself as there was a bath but no shower nor use the toilet or even access the front door due to steps.

It seemed like zero effort was going in to reviewing these properties before they were passed to me and not much more in helping me find a home at all.

I suggested a number of times that I would be happy to meet them at their offices so they understand what I can and cannot do. This was declined. I asked them to join me on viewings, but again this was declined.

When I found properties, there were disagreements between the letting agent and the council, which delayed the process and resulted in the property being let to someone else. I was also outbid on properties by people willing to pay a third more than the advertised rent per month. This was a luxury I didn’t have.

Making do

I decided to focus on modern, open-plan-style flats built within the past 10 years. These homes normally have lifts and more space, but they are also more desirable meaning I faced lots of competition.

My current home definitely isn't an accessible property, but I'm making do. I am frustrated with its doorways, if they were just four inches wider it would help a lot of wheelchair users.

I have damaged doorways in my flat as well as my wheelchair due to limited turning space, particularly when I am struggling cognitively.

Better accessibility standards

Building new homes with wider door widths is a simple fix that would help make properties more accessible giving disabled people more choice in where they can live.

Wider doorways also help parents using pushchairs, older people, pet owners and people moving furniture. Most things that support disabled people also support non-disabled people, too.

For all the reasons I’ve outlined above, making the ‘accessible and adaptable’ dwelling standard the regulatory baseline for all new homes will have a positive impact on people looking for homes, and their mental health. A house isn't just four walls and a roof… it's much more than that.