Q What are the benefits to local authorities of Lifetime Homes?

A Lifetime Homes have both a direct and an indirect cost benefit to local authorities; in addition there are non-quantifiable qualitative benefits for the community they serve.

Very briefly the benefits could be assessed under the following headings:

Adaptations:
A reduction in the provision of money for works to existing stock to housing association properties means that more housing associations and their tenants are turning to the Disabled Facilities Grant system. This, coupled with increased numbers of disabled and older people in the other housing sectors in our communities, puts greater demands on local authorities’ Disabled Facilities Grant budget.

Lifetime Homes are built with accessibility and adaptability incorporated at the design stage. Should the occupant's needs change, the homes are cheaper to adapt and there is minimal disruption to the occupant.

Better stock management:
As the homes meet the needs of a broader client base - disabled people, non-disabled people and older people - there is more effective use of resources and void periods are cut.

Social Services:
As Lifetime Homes are designed to meet changing needs, people are able to remain at home and live independently for longer. There is less likelihood of people being placed in sheltered accommodation or nursing homes prematurely.

The prospect of moving house can be a very traumatic period, particularly for those who are coming to terms with impairment acquired through accident, illness or age. Demands on support services could be reduced if the person did not have to cope with so many changes at once.

Long-term community benefits:
With recent legislative changes there is a greater duty on local authorities to meet the needs of the community in which they serve. Lifetime Homes have benefits which impact across departments and agencies. The fact that older and disabled people do not have to move unless they choose to, adds to the social cohesion of a community.