Apply for aids and adaptations

Your guide to home aids and adaptations

A step-by-step playbook for Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council tenants seeking to improve accessibility and live independently.

Download our Aids and Adaptations Policy

Supporting your independence and safety at home

1. Assist physical or mental impairments through necessary aids
2. Enable disabled individuals to live safely and independently
3. Process requests effectively within available funding limits
4. Balance tenant needs with the effective management of housing stock

Checking your eligibility for council-funded adaptations

1. Council Tenant You must be a tenant of Babergh or Mid Suffolk District Councils
2. Permanent Resident Adaptations are only for permanent members of the household (excludes lodgers or temporary visitors)
3. Long-term Impairment You must have an impairment causing a significant, long-term impact on normal day-to-day activities

Determining the scale: Minor versus Major Adaptations

Minor adaptations:

• Cost: Under £1,000
• Referral: Self-referral permitted in most cases
• Goal: Preventative, prolonging independence
• Examples: Handrails, grab rails, lever taps, external lighting, flashing or amplified doorbells

Major adaptations:

• Cost: Over £1,000 (up to a £30,000 limit)
• Referral: Requires Occupational Therapist assessment
• Goal: Significant structural or accessibility improvements
• Examples: Stair lifts, wet rooms, lowered kitchen surfaces, ramps or door widening

Extensions are rarely provided.

The 6-step journey from initial request to completion

1. Initial assessment: Phone Suffolk County Council on 0808 800 4005 for an Occupational Therapist (OT) assessment
2. Recommendation: OT provides recommendations, and the council reviews this against financial limits
3. Communications: Regular touchpoints and progress updates
4. Quotation: Council sources quotes from approved contractors and schedules work
5. Implementation: Approved contractors carry out works under council supervision
6. Completion: Post-work inspection to ensure standards and tenant needs are met

Keeping you informed at every stage

• Within 3 working days: Acknowledgement that the OT referral has been received
• Within 10 working days: Final decision communicated following the OT's recommendation
• Every 4 weeks: Regular progress updates while awaiting works to begin
• Post-completion: Final communications and follow-up review after works finish

How urgency dictates our response times

• High priority / palliative care: Expedited - Essential adaptations for residents with life-limiting conditions (for example: Motor Neurone Disease or advanced cancer). Tailored to quickly support dignity, comfort and quality of life
• Urgent cases / hospital discharge: Target 2 weeks - Fast-tracked to ensure a safe transition from hospital to home, reducing readmission risks
• Routine cases: Target 8 weeks - Standard adaptations for long-term comfort and accessibility

Financial boundaries and eligibility restrictions

The Council will fund adaptations up to a maximum of £30,000 per property.

You may be denied if:

• You have active rent arrears
• You are subject to an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO)
• You have submitted a Right to Buy application

Exploring alternative pathways when adaptation isn't possible

If your adaptation assessment reveals the cost of adaptation is greater than £30,000 or that there are property design limits, then the council will explore matching you to a more appropriate, potentially pre-adapted living environment.

If your adaptation assessment reveals there will be extensive disruptive works, then the council will provide a temporary home to minimize risk and inconvenience during construction

Understanding the impact on Right to Buy

Under the Housing Act 1985, properties that have received major adaptations which significantly alter the property are exempt from the Right to Buy scheme.

This ensures that highly specialised, council-funded housing stock remains available for those who need it.

Resolution, appeals and your rights

1. The decision: You will be notified whether your adaptation is approved or denied, and contractors instructed if approved
2. The appeal window: If you disagree, you have 6 weeks from notification to submit a written appeal
3. Independent review: Two managers not involved in the original decision will review your case
4. Final outcome: You will receive a written outcome within 20 working days

In the case of a national or local emergency (such as a pandemic), timelines may be adjusted or halted based on government guidance.