London housing draft strategy consultation – Inclusion London’s response

Inclusion London responded to the consultation, which included the recommendations below:

Implementation of Deaf and Disabled people’s Rights

• In accordance with the UN Committee on CRDPD’s recommendation[1] we ask the Mayor to call on the government to place the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in domestic law.
• At a minimum Article 19 UNCRPD[2] is put into domestic law so that Disabled people’s rights to choose where and with whom we live and their rights to inclusion and participation in the community are not overridden by the financial concerns of local authorities.
• In accordance with the UN Committee on UNCRPD’s recommendation[3] we ask the Mayor to call on government for a cumulative impact assessment on Deaf and Disabled people of welfare benefit reforms

Co-production with Deaf and Disabled people

• Deaf and Disabled people work on equal basis to inform GLA and Local Authority’s housing policies and the design of housing.
• The London Access Forum is supported by the GLA.
• Local access forums are financially supported by local authorities and local access officers employed.

Housing priorities

• More accessible Council housing is built as a matter of urgency for Deaf and Disabled.
• The Mayor publishes a target for the number of Council houses to be built in each borough
• An accurate record is made of unmet need for housing is kept in each borough, particularly the unmet need for accessible housing to inform plans for new build in London.
• The Mayor uses his influence on London boroughs to encourage Local Authorities and Housing Associations in London to offer lifetime tenancies in to Deaf and Disabled Londoners.
• Accessible features are retained in all Council Housing in London i.e. they are not removed at the end of a tenancy.
• The Mayor uses his influence to ensure all London boroughs provide Disability Facilities Grants so the amount awarded for a Disabled Facilities Grant is increased to reflect the rise in costs since 2008 and is then increased again in line with inflation on an annual basis
• The requirement to build 10% wheelchair accessible properties is enforced.
• All new build is to M4(2) building regulation standards/Lifetime homes standards,  which only costs from £545 to £1615 per dwelling,[4] but the 18 specifications Lifetime homes specifications that have been disapplied or downgraded under M4(2) are brought up to Lifetime homes standards and all compulsory building regulations under Part M have the same or improved level of accessible standards as Lifetime Homes Standards.
• The needs of people with sensory impairments, rare syndromes or neurodiversity are included in the design and décor of new build.
• More supported housing is provided, which includes supported housing for young people.
• Pressure is applied to local authorities to provide accommodation and social care and support in the community to enable Disabled people people to live and participate in the community, including people with learning difficulties who are currently in hospitals.

Council housing officers’ duties

• Local Authority housing officers are aware of the duties to make reasonable adjustments for Deaf and Disabled people, the duty to provide suitable housing for Deaf and Disabled people and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
• Council housing officers are made more aware of their need to make reasonable adjustments and communicate with Deaf people using a BSLI.  Also that housing for a Deaf person where there is no BSLI support is not suitable.
• Information about how quickly Council officers are supposed respond to communications is easily available and adhered to.  It there are no targets for responding to communications these need to be put in place.

The full response is available to download:

Inclusion London response Draft London Housing Strategy