How much does it cost this country to put in disabled facilities in new builds?

iamcornholio

leveller2911 wrote: »

.The Council are prepared to give them a Grant of 50% as long as they use the "Council recommended Builder and Surveyor.

That's a very cosy relationship.

Or is this some sort of underhand way of forcing one builder to be used, who prices high, which then means that it becomes too expensive, and so does not go ahead ...... saving the grant ... which the council uses elsewhere?

If you can verify that the price is more than market rates, then your sister is being unfairly treated. If the person who deals with this CSDPA work is not willing to relax their unfair policy, then your sister should make a formal complaint first to the council and then if necessary to the Local Government Ombundsman

Nilrem

IIRC our local councils simply will not recommend a particular contractor for any works done with a grant.
What they will do is provide a list of recommended contractors (who they have dealt with in the past, and have I think passed certain requirements), but will also require the home owner/person applying for the grant to get at least 3 quotes from any suitable contractor (be they on the list or not), and will then approve or not one or more of the quotes that meets the specification.
Having said that, last time my mum had to get quotes a couple of the companies on the list of contractors didn't want the work as apparently the council tended to be a PITA and slow to approve payment.

The recommended contractors doesn't sound quite right, if there is just the one or two listed* as it is potentially very open to corruption/claims of corruption (it may be that for certain works they require the contractors to be registered with them, and possibly checked out for work with "vulnerable" people).


*IIRC the list our council has is mainly TS approved or something similar.

Tom_Jones

I love the DDA, it's made me a fortune over the last few years :T:T:T

We are currently installing two disabled shower rooms into commercial premisis, and no one employed there is classed as disabled, and they will probably never be used.

iamcornholio

But now that the companies have disabled facilities, might they not be able to employ some people with disabilities?

You could say the same thing for mens and womens toilets

laurz121

I think these rules are stupid.

We all have to live in houses that no longer suit OUR needs or wants because somebody who MIGHT want to live in it sometime in the future if i DECIDE to sell it to them wants or needs it designed differently? Stupid rule based on nothing more than political correctness.

Presumably it is now illegal to sell 3 door cars in the UK as these are not suitable for people with young children. Afterall it is much cheaper to add a couple of extra doors when the car is being manufactured than it is to alter the chassis later if I choose to sell my car to a young family.

Lets get this right. If I build a house for ME then it should only have to be suitable for ME to live in. If I need it converting for disabled use somewhere down the line then that's my problem, I CHOSE not to have it set up for a disabled person. If I choose to move house in a few years time and the only potential buyer is a disabled person who's needs it doesnt suit then thats unlucky for them and my own tough luck that i've lost out on a sale.

Why should my house have to be designed to cater for a disabled person but not for a large family? Why is it perfectly legal to build a 2 bedroom house? This isn't suitable for a large amount of people and to convert it will cost a lot of money, certainly much more than if the house was built with more bedrooms originally. But this stupid government (and the one before it) doesn't care about that because it doesnt grab the PC headlines does it.

latecomer

Thats not a fair comparison. The cars should be made to include everythings thats required to make them easily converted into a car thats suitable for a potentially disabled driver in the future.

leveller2911

latecomer wrote: »

Thats not a fair comparison. The cars should be made to include everythings thats required to make them easily converted into a car thats suitable for a potentially disabled driver in the future.

I know a fair few disabled people and ALL bar none want to be "Recognised" by society at the same time NONE of them expect the rest of society to comforn to their lives in EVERY way.Disabled people don't want to be patronised they just want to be accepted...


So your suggesting that a Ferrari sports car should be designed so that its easily adaptable for a disabled driver? No sorry but some cars are suitable and some are not end of.....

latecomer

It was intended to be a light hearted/tongue-in-cheek comment but not entirely unserious. After a home, probably the second most common large item that people own is a car so why should they be treated any differently.

(PS I also know some disabled people who think the building requirements being discussed for an existing house is completely unnecessary)

No sorry but some cars are suitable and some are not end of.....

Why are some cars unsuitable? Because they haven't been designed to be suitable. Surely they should all be forced to come up with a design that makes them potentially suitable for everyone - thats what is being done for houses.......