Adaptation request in privately rented house

xylophone

I agree it would be better to look for a ground floor flat with shower room or a bungalow.

cloo

This thread makes one realise what a problem we are going to have as more older people have to rent in the private sector, who will have more healthcare needs than the classic profile of renters. I think there will have to be a rethink of expectations of landlords. It's all very well to say 'move somewhere more suitable' at the moment, but can you imagine how few such properties there must be in the private rented sector?

Ms_Chocaholic

I don't wish to sound harsh but as your partner has severe mobility issues, I presume the grocery shopping is your responsibility; can you manage the grocery purchases to reduce his weight.

Sea_Shell

cloo wrote: »

This thread makes one realise what a problem we are going to have as more older people have to rent in the private sector, who will have more healthcare needs than the classic profile of renters. I think there will have to be a rethink of expectations of landlords. It's all very well to say 'move somewhere more suitable' at the moment, but can you imagine how few such properties there must be in the private rented sector?

I was thinking the exact same thing. Bungalows are becoming rare as hens teeth already, without searching for a rental one.

Another element of the housing crisis brewing.

Jenniefour

cloo wrote: »

This thread makes one realise what a problem we are going to have as more older people have to rent in the private sector, who will have more healthcare needs than the classic profile of renters. I think there will have to be a rethink of expectations of landlords. It's all very well to say 'move somewhere more suitable' at the moment, but can you imagine how few such properties there must be in the private rented sector?

Agree. I doubt there are many properties in the private rental sector that are already adapted/suitable for those with health issues similar to Op's husband. It's not only in the private sector either, it's local authority and HA housing too. Whether the government have the will to tackle the housing crisis properly remains to be seen but I'm not holding my breath.

teddysmum

A stair rail may not be possible if the stairway is narrow and completely or partially enclosed, as it would prevent the moving of furniture.


Also,drilling holes for a bath rail would damage at least two tiles and as production of patterns/colours is time limited, so to make good the landlord could have to completely retile (not a cheap option)

squinty

A couple of things to try.

a. Speak to Environmental Health at the Council to see if there are any Disabled Facility Grants available and to understand the local process of applying. Any work will be conditional on the landlord accepting this, and you may need to pay towards this following a means test.

b. Secondly, put your name on the local housing list. In some areas, as bungalows are often excluded from the RTB there are more properties available, and you may get some priority if your partner cannot easily use the bathroom.

Good luck

Yorkie006

Hi everyone and thanks for your input.
Couple of thing that popped up in the discussion I'd like to explain/clarify.

The stairs are wide enough to have a banister fitted (we managed to get our furniture out of a terraced house with a narrower staircase and into this house with no problems). I doubt that any potential future tenant would complain about the presence of a banister. I don't have any disabilities but would still prefer to have something to hold onto when carrying full laundry basket down the stairs for example. Surely, holding onto a banister as you walk up/down the stairs is safer than walking up/down the stair with nothing but a bare wall to hold onto (not to mention the wall will be cleaner too as there will be no greasy finger prints).
The grab handle in bathroom would involve drilling into the tiles but I don't think that would be an issue. It could either be left or the holes filled in after we moved out (the tiles are a multicoloured abstract pattern so they wouldn't be visible unless you looked closely). Plus, the bathroom could do with a complete renovation anyway as it's quite old and tired (some of the tiles already had cracks in them since before we moved in 5 years ago).

I tried looking for a more suitable house but unfortunately, they're all the same. We live in a former mining village (population approx. 11000, most houses are semis build in the 50's and 60's), all houses were council owned but sold off to private owners in the 80's. There are only a few council owned properties left (most of them occupied by retired people who've been living in them for decades). The only available properties to rent are owned by private landlords (but again, most are semis, so still the same problem with stairs/bathroom as in current house).
There are virtually no bungalows or flats in the village. We can't move out of the area as I have a job here and don't drive (I work shifts in a local factory, so early starts/late finishes mean that public transport is not always an option - at the moment I walk to work).

To those commenting on my partners weight: he's a big stocky guy, 6'2" and used to play rugby at college. Yes, he's overweight but suggesting that losing weight would magically make all of his problems go away is just silly. Plus, a lot of the weight gain a side effect of medication. He doesn't smoke or drink (can't anyway because of the meds) and eats healthy food most of the time (he's got a dietitian to help with that). His GP was trying for years to get his weight under control as the increased medication was making it go up and up. Now they finally found a combination that keeps his weight more or less the same. The extra weight from previous years still needs shifting though. We do the food shop together as the only shop nearby is a small and over-priced off licence. The nearest supermarket is 15 minutes drive away and I don't drive. It's teamwork, I can't get to the shop easily myself (or more importantly, I can't get the shopping home), and he can't manage to do the shopping without help so we shop together and it works (and if, for whatever reason, he's not feeling up to walking round the shop with me, he waits in the car or the cafe).

Money_maker

So he could drive you to work if you moved away from the area? I would have a word with your OT, GP or SS about suitable housing. As a landlord I would not want the responsibility of fitting and maintaining a handhold which needs to support 22 stone. Who would be responsible if there was an accident? Losing weight wouldn't magically make all of his problems go away but it may make some of them go without doubt.

Cakeguts

The end result of all of this is still going to be that you need to move. Your main problem is not the lack of a stair rail or grab bars in the bathroom it is the fact that the property you are in has got stairs. Stairs are not what your partner needs in a property. Your landlord has probably realised that even if he puts in a stair rail and grab rails you can't go on living there because of the stairs.

You need to get on the council list for a property for a disabled person who can't use stairs. Look for a ground floor privately rented flat.

Getting another property for your partner's safety is I would have thought the first priority while working out how you can get to work is the second. You wouldn't put your job higher than your partner's health and safety would you?