Major Adaptations – Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) & Disabled Persons Relocation Assistance

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG's) help residents who are disabled to make essential changes to their homes so they can live safely and independently. These adaptations support access into and around the home and help people use key facilities such as bathrooms and toilets. 

Major Adaptations include substantial works such as heavy‑duty equipment (e.g., stairlifts and vertical lifts), structural alterations, and the installation of essential facilities such as level‑access showers or adapted bathrooms. These works usually cost more than £1,000.

DFGs are a mandatory service delivered under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 - Sections 19-24 as amended by Schedule 3 of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 . They are treated as a high priority to help people remain safely at home.

How works are funded

  • DFGs are funded by the Council using capital funding.
  • Where the cost of adaptations is above £36,000 (such as, extensions or multiple significant adaptations), the remaining amount may be funded through the Housing with Care Fund (subject to available funding).
  • ENABLE funding from Welsh Government can also be used by Blaenau Gwent or through Care and Repair for medium‑sized adaptations such as wet rooms or stairlifts (subject to available funding).

What type of works can be done?

DFGs help disabled residents use their home more easily. Eligible works may include:

  • facilitating access to and from the dwelling to the street outside;
  • facilitating access to a family living room;
  • facilitating  access to a bedroom or providing a new bedroom accessible by the disabled person;
  • facilitating access to bathing and toilet facilities suitable for use by the disabled person, adapting existing facilities for that person or providing suitable facilities;
  • providing facilities for the preparation and cooking of food where appropriate;
  • works to enable a disabled person to have full use of heating, lighting and power controls, e.g. relocation of power points and switches, adapting controls;
  • adapting or improving a heating system suitable for use by the disabled person;
  • works to enable a disabled person better access around the dwelling to care for a dependant relative;
  • works to make a dwelling safe for a disabled person, such as minimising the risk of danger from violent or boisterous behaviour or improvements to compensate for sensory impairment;
  • facilitating access to and from a garden by a disabled occupant;
  • making access to a garden safe for a disabled occupant.

All works must be supported by an Occupational Therapist’s assessment confirming they are necessary and suitable. The Housing and Communities Team will check whether the works are “reasonable and practicable,” taking into account the property’s age, condition and layout. They will also support residents through the application and installation process.

Where possible, the Council will aim to carry out adaptations within the existing footprint of the property. Extensions are only considered if internal solutions are not possible or cost‑effective.

How to apply

To request an Occupational Therapy assessment, please contact:

  • a person aged 18 or over, please contact the Adult Services IAA Hub
  • a child or young person, please contact the Children’s Services IAA Hub

Duty Referral Team

The Process

1. Occupational Therapy Assessment

Once the IAA Team has received your referral and completed their initial checks, an Occupational Therapist will assess your needs and, for more complex cases, may attend with a Housing Surveyor. A referral will then be sent to the Grants Administrator from the Business Support Team.

2. Help Completing Your Application

Within 4 weeks of the OT referral (or 7 days if urgent), a Grants Administrator from the Business Support Team will contact you to help complete the application forms and confirm proof of ownership or tenancy.

3. Property & Consent Checks

The Council will confirm property ownership. If you have a mortgage or a landlord, their written consent must be received before works can begin.

4. Survey of Required Adaptations

A full survey of the works needed based on the OT’s recommendations will be carried out, and the proposed works will be discussed and agreed with you at this stage.

5. Choose Contractors (3 quotes required)

You must provide three quotes. You can either:

  • Use the Council’s Approved Contractor List, or
  • Choose your own contractors, provided they meet required standards.

6. Council Decision & Agreeing Start Date

Once your quotes are submitted, the Council will approve or refuse the application in writing. If approved, the Housing Surveyor will discuss a start date with the contractor and then agree that date with you so you know exactly when the works will begin.

7. Checking Progress of the Works

During the works, the Housing Surveyor may visit to check progress and make sure everything is being completed as agreed.

8. Completion

When the works are finished, the Housing Surveyor will carry out a final inspection and ask you to sign off the works to confirm they’ve been completed satisfactorily.

 

Minor Adaptations – Safety at Home / Minor Adaptations Scheme (delivered in partnership with Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly Care & Repair Agency)

This scheme is directly delivered by the Social Services department and Care and Repair and helps disabled residents remain safe and independent at home. Following an Occupational Therapy assessment, assistance can be provided for minor works such as:

  • Internal and external handrails
  • Grab rails
  • Key safes
  • Small ramps to improve access
  • Extra electrical sockets for community alarm systems
  • Small-scale works to support easier movement around the home

The maximum support available is £1,000. If works cost more, Care & Repair will try to secure additional funding (including other grants or charitable funds). Work will not begin until all funding is in place. If extra funding cannot be secured, you may be advised to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Please note: For Housing Association tenants, minor adaptations are delivered directly by the landlord.

How to apply 

To request an Occupational Therapy assessment, please contact:

  • a person aged 18 or over, please contact the Adult Services IAA Hub
  • a child or young person, please contact the Children’s Services IAA Hub

Duty Referral Team

The Process

  • Referral made via telephone or email – referrals can be made by the individual, families and other professionals *Consent must be obtained by the individual*
  • Information is gathered over the telephone and if required a holistic and proportionate assessment is started.
  • This will then determine if a house visit is required to continue the assessment.
  • All preventative options (including aids/equipment) are explored in the first instance – to enable and promote independence.
  • If needs are complex or can’t be met via preventative services – the referral will handover for specialist assessment (Occupational Therapy Team).

Other Contact information

Care & Repair Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly

Unit 1A–1B Foxes Lane

Oakdale Business Park

Oakdale

Blackwood

NP12 4AB

Telephone: (01495) 321091

Website: http://www.careandrepair.org.uk/en/your-area/blaenau-gwent-and-caerphilly-care-repair/

 

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Social Services Directorate

The General Offices

Steelworks Road

Ebbw Vale

NP23 6DN

Private Sectory Housing Renewel Policy (PSHRP -2025-2030)