Adapting your home

If you need improvements and adaptations to your home to help you continue to live independently there, you may qualify for grant aid from the Housing Executive (NIHE).

Disabled Facilities Grants

Usually, an occupational therapist will assess what adaptations are appropriate to meet your needs. If they agree that you need adaptations to your home, you will be awarded a Disabled Facilities Grant.

The NIHE gives Disabled Facilities Grants to eligible applicants to make houses suitable for people with disabilities. Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be expected to pay some of the costs.

Disabled Facilities Grants are available to owners and tenants in both private and social housing, subject to a limit of £25,000.

Grants can be used on any adaptation that will make it easier for the person with disabilities to get into and around the home,or to provide adapted facilities or equipment.

Disabled Facilities Grants - introduction

Allowance Scheme for people with disabilities

Where a property has been designed or adapted so that you, or another person with disabilities can live there, you may be eligible for a reduction in your domestic rate bill under the Disabled Person's Allowance Scheme.

For more information, contact Land & Property Services by telephone on:

0845 300 6360

Or you can find out more on the following page.

Disabled Persons Allowance - Rates (property and housing section)

Supporting People programme

Supporting People is a government programme that provides housing-related support to help vulnerable people live as independently as possible in the community, whether in their own homes or in supported housing.

Supporting People programme

Planning permission and building regulations

It's important to get planning permission and find out about building regulations before you begin any major building alterations. The following links will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local council website where you can find out more.

Choosing tradespeople and builders

If you decide to hire a tradesperson or builder yourself, it's important to choose someone who operates legally and is qualified for the job. You can find information about choosing a builder in the leisure, home and community section of nidirect.