Disabled Londoners are being failed due to a “chronic” shortage of accessible housing, the Mayor has been warned.
A lack of homes which are either built or adapted to enable people with access needs to live independently has led to “deeply distressing” conditions for those in need, according to the Chair of the London Assembly Housing Committee.
Zoë Garbett has now written to Sir Sadiq Khan following the group’s investigation into accessible housing in London.
She said the “stark and compelling” evidence heard from stakeholders included one case where a disabled Londoner took his own life after nine months of unresolved complaints to his housing association.
Other harrowing cases included one resident left unable to wash themselves after being placed in temporary accommodation without an accessible bathroom, and another who had to wait for their partner to lift them two floors up because they couldn’t take the stairs.
Laura Vicinanza, of the disability charity Inclusion London, said: “The number of people we spoke to who experience stress, anxiety, depression, who have had to be hospitalised—it is just outrageous.”
Hallie Banish, from the independent living charity Ruils, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This is a housing emergency. The current lack of accessible housing is appalling and something urgently needs to be done about it.
“We see examples of people in severe crisis which is not being recognised as such. It has such an impact on the life of disabled people who cannot access their home or community.
“Everyone deserves safe, accessible, affordable housing and the Mayor needs to do his job in ensuring this bare minimum standard is met.”
Ms Garbett wrote: “The consequences of inaccessible housing are far-reaching. It can isolate people, force them to live in a single room, or prevent them from leaving their homes.
“It often leaves people reliant on partners or carers to meet even their basic needs. It can take a profound physical, mental and emotional toll.
“This is the human cost of inaccessible housing. We are clear that deaf and disabled Londoners deserve better; they deserve to live in homes that meet their needs, allowing them to live with dignity and independence.”
Developers failing to meet requirementsEven where accessible housing does exist, navigating the systems to find it are “complex and difficult”, she added.
She said the “obvious solution” to the issue was building more accessible homes and retrofitting existing housing, but claimed a lack of data – stemming from a failure to effectively monitor developer standards – meant taking effective action was “almost impossible”.
As well as improving data, other recommendations include ensuring a larger proportion of homes are delivered to the wheelchair accessible standard, and holding developers to account for failing to do so.
The London Plan, set out in 2021, requires that 90 per cent of new build homes are built to be adaptable for residents with accessibility needs, but last year, just 23 per cent of new build completions were compliant with this. The Plan also states that 10% should be wheelchair accessible or readily adaptable for people with accessibility needs to move into.
Ms Garbett said: “The chronic lack of suitable accessible homes is fundamental to our housing emergency – and the committee has heard the devastating effects it is having on many Londoners’ lives.
“But our investigation also shows this has not been treated as a priority by the Mayor. We are in a position where we don’t know what accessible housing we need, how much we have, or how much we are building.
“The Mayor must take immediate action to address the issues we have found, including mapping need, gathering appropriate data and involving deaf and disabled people throughout future decision making processes.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The housing crisis in London and across the country can mean people are stuck in homes that don’t meet their needs. Years of under-funding by the previous government, low economic growth, high interest rates and record construction costs have all held us back from building much-needed homes – and Londoners are suffering the consequences.
“The current London Plan requires 10% of new homes to be wheelchair accessible or adaptable, and a recent consultation to inform development of the next Plan invited comments on how to unlock more housing options for disabled Londoners. The Mayor is committed to ensuring that all Londoners can afford a place to call home and providing genuine choice for London’s diverse population.”
