New policy set to support more residents to live safely and independently in their own homes

The modernised policy enhances discretionary funding, introduces dedicated support for Armed Forces personnel and veterans, and ensures a consistent, tenure-neutral service so that residents receive the same level of support whether they own their home, rent privately or live in social housing.

Building on the proven success of existing discretionary grants which have helped speed up hospital discharges, reduce bed blocking and deliver around £8 of benefit for every £1 invested, the new policy introduces two additional discretionary grants to close remaining gaps in support:

• The Discretionary Armed Forces Grant: provides up to £30,000 for serving personnel and veterans, is not means-tested, and removes unnecessary administrative barriers. This strengthens the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and ensures those who have served the country can access essential adaptations more quickly and without additional financial pressure.
• The Discretionary Service Fees Grant: will cover rising service fees and VAT costs that have increasingly pushed works beyond standard grant limits. By protecting the full Disabled Facilities Grant allocation for the physical adaptations themselves and reducing or removing customer contributions, the measure ensures vulnerable residents are not priced out of vital improvements to their homes.

The updated policy, agreed by West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Cabinet at their meeting this week (10 March), also responds to rising demand, increasing material and labour costs, and strengthened national guidance on delivering fair and accessible services. In recent years, some residents faced financial contributions they could not afford, in some cases preventing essential works from going ahead. The new, more flexible approach ensures that no eligible resident is left without the adaptations they need.

Cllr Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at WNC, said:
“This policy is about fairness, dignity and making sure residents can remain safe and independent in their own homes.

“We know demand is increasing and costs are rising, but no one should miss out on essential adaptations because of financial barriers or outdated processes. By introducing greater flexibility and dedicated support for our Armed Forces community, we are creating a modern, inclusive service that works for everyone and delivers real benefits for residents and our health and care partners.”

The policy received unanimous support from Overview and Scrutiny Committees following extensive consultation with partners and stakeholders. It positions the Housing Adaptations Service to meet growing demand while continuing to deliver strong social and financial value through preventative investment.