Habinteg tenants highlight UK's accessible housing crisis on ITV News | Tenant news

Several Habinteg tenants were recently featured in an ITV news story on the shortage of wheelchair accessible homes in in several English regions.

The news segments, which aired last month, revealed that nearly 1,700 people in those areas are currently waiting for an accessible council home.

Around one in six people in the UK are disabled, but only 9% of homes offer even the most basic levels of accessibility and there is huge demand for adaptations to homes that don’t meet the needs of the people who live in them. 

Waiting for a home

Habinteg tenant Luke who lives in Ossett, Yorkshire, was on his council waiting list for just a few months before being offered his accessible home in December 2024.

"I wasn’t expecting to find anywhere really quickly… it’s a miracle really," Luke said.

Luke’s experience is not the case for everyone. Many disabled people wait for years to find an accessible home, making do in unsuitable conditions in the meantime.

In fact, research published by Habinteg in October 2022 revealed that someone joining a local authority waiting list for a new-build wheelchair-accessible home could have to wait up to 47 years.

Kim Smith, a member of Habinteg’s Insight Group -  a team of disabled campaigners who raise their voices and share their lived experiences to move accessible housing further up the agenda - has also been waiting for an accessible and adaptable home for some time.

Kim spoke with ITV about the difficulties disabled people face in inaccessible homes.

“Having to exist in an inaccessible home is unbearable. I can’t move freely in a home I’m paying to live in. We need more humane homes for wheelchair users urgently,” she said.

Habinteg’s Director of Social Impact and External Affairs, Christina McGill, said: "We need to act now to meet the needs of older and disabled people. One action that can be taken right now is to improve the accessibility and adaptability of all new-build homes.

“We’d like to see many more accessible homes built, including wheelchair accessible homes. And they need to be built for a full range of people and households because disabled people don’t come in just one shape and size. There will be family households, and single-person households.”

Share your story

Christina added: “We need people to share their stories so we can spotlight what is going on and explain to decision makers how important accessible homes are. They can be the key to a fulfilling life with dignity, enhanced wellbeing, independence and opportunity for many disabled and older people. 

“So I’d like to thank Insight Group member Kim and all Habinteg tenants who shared their experiences with ITV: Luke Appleyard (Ossett, Yorkshire), Louise Scott (North Shields, Tyneside), Kevin and Marilyn Mullins (Teyfant Road, Bristol), and Catalina Ionita (Lawson Court, Walsall).

If you're a disabled person living in an accessible Habinteg home and would like to share your housing journey to help highlight the need for more inclusive housing, we’d love to hear from you. Email our communications team at comms@habinteg.org.uk.

Have you signed up to the tenant portal, My Habinteg, yet? It’s quick and easy, you can access a breakdown of your service charges and there’s a monthly £50 shopping voucher winter prize draw for new users. Sign up now . And, if you'd like to receive the digital version of tenant newsletter Update, instead of the print version, please email comms@habinteg.org.uk and ask to be added to the mailing list.