How accessible homes help disabled people with work | Tenant news

For many disabled people, maintaining steady employment can be a challenge, not just because of workplace barriers, but also due to difficulties with finding suitable housing.

Accessible housing plays a vital role, providing disabled people with the foundation they need to get jobs, keep those jobs, and thrive professionally and socially.

Why accessible housing matters

Accessible housing means homes are designed to work for the widest range of people so that anyone, regardless of impairment, background, or income can live comfortably and safely.

Features like wide doorways, accessible kitchens, spacious wet rooms, and nearby public transport can remove or reduce the barriers that often make working life harder for disabled people.

When a home meets a disabled tenant’s needs, it becomes easier for them to be more independent – making the morning routine more manageable, allowing them to get ready for work without relying on other people, and setting them up for a good start to the day.

Our 2023 report, Living, not existing highlights that disabled people living in suitable homes are four times more likely to be in paid employment, meaning that they enjoy higher disposable incomes, and rely less on benefits.

In the report, Edward, a wheelchair user, explains, “I started to use a wheelchair in 1997, and at the time I was living on the 13th floor of a block of flats.

I wasn’t working at the time and certainly I wouldn’t be able to work in the job I am now at if I still lived in that property.”

Accessible homes help disabled people stay in work for longer by reducing daily obstacles and helping them gain the independence necessary to prepare for and maintain work.

A safe and accessible home can also reduce health problems, lower stress, and make it easier to balance work and personal life. With these supports in place, disabled tenants are more likely to find and maintain work, feel confident, stay motivated, and grow in their careers.

Andrew’s story

Habinteg tenant Andrew Moody is a long-term resident at a Habinteg housing scheme designed to help people with head injuries to live independently.

Headway Court opened 30 years ago and offers accessible, supportive homes close to local shops and community facilities.

Having a suitable home allowed Andrew to focus on what else he’d like to do, and that’s working a few days a week at a charity shop on the local high street.

“I’ve been working at the charity shop for 18 years now,” said Andrew. “I’ve lived at Headway Court for 26 years, and I think having an accessible home has helped me build the confidence that has allowed me to stay in my job for so long.

Because the shop is close to where I live, it’s not difficult to get to and I can balance my work and home life.”

Health and wellbeing

When everyday tasks are easier to manage, disabled people are better placed to excel at work, and an accessible home can reduce sources of stress and make it much easier to socialise.

Another Living not Existing research respondent, Michael, told us:

“I can go to and from as much as I want to, I can go outside. I don’t need to ask people every time to open the door for me, so that is a real peace of mind. It just gives you more freedom and more ease, yeah, to live your life… it’s not an existence.”

If you’re a disabled person looking for work and need support, visit www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-if-disabled for information on disability employment advisers and work schemes.

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