Housing
As well as thinking about what to do when they leave school, young people will also need to consider where they would like to live. There are a variety of options available, all which will need careful planning and therefore early consideration is recommended.
The type of housing and support required can be considered as part of a Person Centred Plan and Community Care Assessment.
Young people thinking about their future housing needs will need help to consider the following questions:
- What type of property will they need?
- How much space do they require?
- What sort of lifestyle do they want?
- Who do they want to live with?
- What support will they require?
- Who will provide this support?
- How will the home be secured?
- Who will maintain and repair the property?
- What benefits can be applied for?
- What will the young person need to spend?
- What if the young person wants to move out?
- What are the important points to note?
The housing opportunities available vary from area to area. However, the main options are outlined below:
Family home
Many young disabled people (around 60%) are supported within their family home. Although it is likely that the support and care will be excellent, the young person often has little control over their lives and choice of activities.
Adult placements and supported lodgings
Both of these options involve living with another family in their home. An adult placement would entail the young person living as part of the family. In supported lodgings, the young person would rent a room from the host and would live more independently, but accessing some support if required.
Residential care
This type of care home is usually set up for individuals who share a similar disability. The individual may have a choice of home and whether it is Local Authority run, private sector or voluntary sector. The amount of individual choice and control will largely depend upon the philosophy of the staff team and it would be difficult for the young person to choose who they live with.
Supported housing
This can be a shared or an individual home. In supported housing, the individual has a tenancy and pays rent. Although rents tend to be higher through Registered Social Landlords, this may be paid in full by Housing Benefit. Individuals would need to check with their local Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Extra Care Housing and cluster flats
This is supported housing whereby individuals have their own flats in a community with others. Not all areas offer this and advice should be sought from the local Housing Office. Often this type of housing provides communal areas for eating or socialising.
Renting
This option can be secured though private landlords, local councils or housing associations. Renting privately may be a way of gaining independence quickly, but it may not be a secure option long term. In addition young people would need to ensure that their rent can be covered from the money coming in to the household, as renting privately is usually an expensive housing option. If claiming Local Housing Allowance, the tenant would only be able to claim for the number of bedrooms they would need.
Renting through a council or housing association may take longer to arrange but it is usually a more affordable option. Young people completing an application form for a place on the council’s housing register will then be awarded points in relation to their housing need. The local council housing team will fully explain the process on how to secure a tenancy through them. Housing associations are obliged to offer a portion of their housing stock properties through the local council and the remaining properties are offered via the individual association. Some housing associations operate waiting lists and others match properties to tenants on a monthly basis.
Shared ownership
This means that people purchase part of their home (either with savings or through a mortgage) and pay rent for the remaining part of their home. Although this option can provide the young person with more control over how they live and whom they live with, they also need to ensure that they have sufficient funds to pay for the rent and mortgage. Specialist advice should be sought when considering this option.
Buying your own home
Depending upon the support and funding available, this option can provide the most choice and control. There can be drawbacks (for example, being able to meet mortgage repayments). If living alone, social isolation and loneliness could become an issue.
All the options available have benefits and risks associated with them and not every option is available (eg, Registered Social Landlord support) or appropriate to all.
There is a range of information available at Housing Options, a housing advisory service for people with LDD.
Although every effort has been made to ensure that this information was correct at the time of publication, contacts, telephone numbers and addresses are subject to change, which may make the information become gradually less accurate.