Impact of inaccessible homes could run to billions for public purse, says Habinteg | Latest news

One in five UK adults report that they or a family member experienced outcomes such as a delayed hospital discharge or a move into residential care, because a home could not meet their accessibility needs, a new Habinteg survey finds.

Using data from the survey – which explored public attitudes towards accessible and adaptable housing – Habinteg estimates that the cost to the NHS for delayed hospital discharges due to inaccessible homes could run to over £3.9 billion^[i], while moves to residential care for the same reason could cost over £11 billion if each lasted just four weeks.^[ii]

Key findings

Publishing findings in a new briefing, The adaptability gap_Public perceptions of UK homes in 2026 accessible.pdf [9MB], Habinteg found that 21% UK adults (aged 16 to 79) say that they or a family member experienced outcomes like a delayed return home from hospital, or a move into residential care because a home did not meet their accessibility needs.

The survey results also show that worry about the suitability of future housing is highest among people who have previously experienced or witnessed the impact of inaccessible homes. Almost a third (29%) of this group worry always or often about the suitability of their home or that of a loved one, compared to just 15% of all UK adults. One in five (22%) unpaid carers said they worry often or always.

Meanwhile, among those aged between 55 and 64, less than a third (28%) said they were confident that their current home would allow independent living at age 80 without adaptations compared to four in 10 (40%) of all UK adults.

Adult social care

Habinteg Insight Group member, Mike Nevin, experienced a delayed discharge from hospital following a major health incident where he lost the use of his legs, lower body, and for a time, the use of his upper body.

“I had to stay in hospital for longer than I needed to because my Victorian semi-detached property in Somerset was so unsuitable for me that the Occupational Therapist declared me ‘technically homeless’, said Mr Nevin.

“I remember a feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed me about my housing situation; all I wanted to do was to go home. If I had stayed in hospital any longer, I’d have spiralled downwards.

“To get me out of hospital and back into my original home while I searched for a new, more suitable home, a friend constructed a temporary ramp. Without it, the house would have been inaccessible to me. Unable to find a suitable home in the southwest, we eventually had to leave Somerset, for a new-build house with level access and wide halls in the northeast in Durham.”

Unpaid care

People who provide unpaid care for adults or children are almost twice as likely to have faced situations such as delayed discharge from hospital or having to move into residential care - 40% report that they have experienced or witnessed such a consequence of an inaccessible home compared to 21% of all UK adults.

Among carers, 11% had their own return home from hospital delayed and 10% moved into residential care, while 16% saw a family member’s discharge delayed and 19% saw a family member move into care.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “For many carers, housing isn’t simply about having a roof over their head. They are often caring for someone with longstanding or changing accessibility needs, with varying support available to make their home safe, accessible and suitable for the care they provide. 

"At the same time, many unpaid carers are living on very low incomes and cannot afford the costs of adaptations, repairs and improvements. People can become stuck in hospital or unsuitable accommodation when they could otherwise be living safely at home, while carers are left under enormous financial and emotional pressure. 

“Safe, suitable and accessible housing is fundamental to enabling people to live independently and carers to continue providing care.” 

Concerns about adapting homes

Habinteg’s survey also found that people’s concerns about adapting homes are mainly financial and practical. Cost is one of the top three concerns, cited by 46% of respondents, followed by whether their home can be adapted at all (36%). Of those who rent, 38% said getting permission from a landlord or housing provider to adapt a home would also be a top three concern.

Accessibility appears more important when people think about their next home move, compared with past considerations. While 17% said accessibility and adaptability were a high or top priority when choosing their last home, 25% said it will be for their next move. People that often or always worry about the accessibility of their home or that of a loved one are over four times more likely to make it a priority of their next move, than those who don’t (56% v 13%).

Government policy has a role to play in the supply of accessible homes. Over half (52%) of UK adults support a requirement for all new homes to be accessible and adaptable, compared with 13% who oppose it.

Support for national policy

Habinteg’s Chief Executive, Martin Warhurst, said: “Our estimates show that the lack of accessible and adaptable housing could be costing billions of pounds for the public purse in health and social care. Government needs to face up to this and should take note of the substantial public support for a national policy to ensure all new homes are built to the accessible and adaptable standard.

“Currently, the National Planning Policy Framework only requires a minimum of just 40% of new homes to be built to the standard and there is no obligation on local planning authorities to include a target for homes that are fully wheelchair accessible.

“The lack of accessible homes causes real harm and hardship to countless households, as well as driving costs to public services. Any of our lives can change in an instant and accessible housing can be needed at any time. If we are to learn from the experiences of people like Mike Nevin, we must recognise that accessible homes are essential to social care reform, because they protect people's independence and ease the strain on our systems. We must listen to and use their experiences and insight to progress a preventive housing strategy that commits to building the accessible and adaptable homes that we are all likely to need.”

Call to action

• Read the full briefing, The adaptability gap: public perceptions of UK homes in 2026.
• Share the findings of our survey with your friends, family and social media network
• Ask your friends, family and social media network to write to their local MP using this MP letter template.docx [20KB], inviting them to raise the lack of accessible housing in Parliament and support stronger delivery of M4(2) accessible and adaptable homes and M4(3) wheelchair user homes.

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[i] Habinteg calculation: cost of hospital stay ref https://healthstrives.com/what-the-nhs-pays-to-keep-you-in-a-hospital-bed/ ) (calculation 54m UK adults x 5% x one night in hospital average cost = £483 x 3 = £3.9bn.)
[ii] Habinteg calculation: cost of residential care ref Care home costs: How much do you pay in 2026? (calculation: 54m UK adults x 4% x £1298 x 4 = £11.2bn)