18th November 2025 • My Family Our Needs

In this Q&A, Melanie Akas, Occupational Therapist and Practice Owner of Eiko Therapy, explains how housing assessments work, how families can access funding and what to expect from the process. From navigating council systems to understanding private assessment options, Melanie offers practical insight for parents and professionals supporting children with additional needs.

Q: What is your experience with housing assessments and who can benefit from them?

My experience around this is primarily within the children’s sector for housing assessments carried out by occupational therapists. Parents of children with disabilities, including neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism as well as physical health needs, can often benefit from housing support. This usually involves adaptations to the home that make day to day life safer and easier for the child and their family.

Q: What does an occupational therapy housing assessment involve?

An occupational therapist housing assessment involves visiting the home, looking at the child’s needs in detail and recommending adaptations. These may include minor works, major works or safety adjustments. The recommendations are written up in a report that is shared with the local council, who usually take forward the next steps and decide whether and how to act on the recommendations.

Q: Who can access this kind of support, and how is it funded?

Families can access this support whether they live in private housing, council housing or their own home. For minor works, typically under £1000, the council usually covers the cost. For larger works, funding is often provided through a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). I believe families themselves apply for a DFG, but the process is managed through the council, who will use the occupational therapist’s recommendations as part of the application. I haven’t been very involved in this part of the process.

Q: How long does it usually take for housing adaptations to be completed?

Timelines for these adaptations can vary widely. Minor works are usually completed within a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on council capacity. Major adaptations funded through a DFG can take much longer, often between 3 and 12 months, and sometimes longer if there are complex requirements, temporary housing or long council backlogs. Private occupational therapy assessments can be obtained much more quickly, usually within a few weeks, giving families a clear report to support council applications or private arrangements.

Q: What happens if a family is in temporary housing or has just moved into a new property?

Things can become more complicated when a family is in temporary accommodation or has not lived in a property for very long. In these situations, I would recommend checking with the council’s housing team, who are familiar with DFG applications and local eligibility rules.

Q: Why are waiting lists for housing assessments so long?

One of the main challenges is that this area of occupational therapy is specialist. Many occupational therapists focus on sensory needs, whereas housing adaptations require different expertise. As a result, waiting lists are often very long, sometimes lasting months or even years, particularly since COVID-19 created significant backlogs.

Q: Can families choose to arrange a private occupational therapy assessment instead?

Because of this, some families choose to seek a private occupational therapy housing assessment. I provide these assessments and written reports, which reflect the time and expertise involved. Families can then share these reports with their local council. Some councils accept private reports to help progress the process, although this varies, so it is always worth checking directly.

Q: Can families act on private recommendations themselves?

Alternatively, some families choose to act on private recommendations themselves and arrange the work independently if they are in a position to fund this. The process is very similar, I believe, for adults, and this is also an area of assessment we cover.

Q: How can families or professionals get in touch if they need support?

I hope this information is helpful. If families might benefit from this support, we would be happy to assist. As a private practice, we do charge for our services, but our aim is always to provide clear, practical guidance that helps families move forward.

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