Adapting your home

From the section: Equipment to help you

In this section:

Adapting your home

Adaptations to your home can make it easier to live there safely and independently for as long as possible. They can also help your carers to support you.

Available adaptations

Typically, there are two types of adaptations:

  • minor
  • major

Minor adaptations

Minor adaptations can usually be provided quickly and free of charge to anyone, whether you own your own home or rent from a private landlord or housing association.

They can include:

  • grab rails (or grab bars) to help you balance and reduce the risk of falling
  • half-steps that reduce the height of steps in and around the home
  • stair rails (or handrails or bannisters) to help you climb the stairs

Our how-to videos to help you stay independent provide examples of how equipment can help with everyday living. 

A minor adaptation is defined as costing £1,000 or less. In Solihull, we may be able to provide up to £1,500 of minor works under our Housing Assistance Policy.

To find out more about minor adaptations and how to request them, please contact Solihull Independent Living Service (SILS) by:

Major adaptations

If you need extra or specialised support, you may need to make a major adaptation to your home. An Occupational Therapy assessment will identify the best way to support you.

Major adaptations may include:

  • bathroom adaptations such as removing a bath and replacing it with a specialist bath or an accessible shower
  • a stair lift or through-floor lift to help you access upstairs rooms
  • a ramp for wheeled access to the community
  • ceiling track hoist to support lifting and positioning someone, for example, from a bed to a chair or wheelchair
  • ground floor facilities such as a bedroom, shower room or safe space

How to request a major adaption 

There are different ways of funding adaptations depending on who owns your home.

If you own your home or are a private tenant, you may be able to get help towards the cost of adapting your home by applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).

If you are a Solihull Community Housing (SCH) tenant, you can find out what support is available on the SCH website.

Case studies

Our Disabled Facilities Grant page includes a list of case studies of how people have benefitted from various adaptations to their home.