England’s housing crisis is deepening, and for Disabled people, its impact is particularly acute.

A new report, released today by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, sheds light on the disproportionate challenges Disabled people face when navigating local authorities’ housing and homelessness services.

With many councils, particularly in London, struggling to meet the rising demand for housing support, some Disabled people are being pushed further to the margins. The report, called “Access Denied”, draws on real-life complaints investigated by the Ombudsman to show the additional barriers Disabled people can - and do - face.

The report follows the stories of three people – drawn from a range of Ombudsman cases – as they navigate a council’s homelessness, housing allocations, and adaptations services. The stories highlight the numerous issues Disabled people encounter, including inadequate needs assessments and incorrect medical assessments, a lack of adaptations, poor communication and delays.

The report kicks off the Ombudsman’s campaign to help council leaders reflect on their practices and make improvements to their housing services for Disabled people.

These include questions for scrutiny, designed to help council leadership examine the services they offer. There will also be separate practical guides and events tailored for housing officers to implement real, ‘on-the-ground’ changes

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Ms Amerdeep Somal, said:

“Disabled people often suffer greater injustices when in need of housing and homelessness support, simply because of their disability, but their stories are sometimes overlooked.

“A major factor worsening the crisis is the chronic shortage of adapted or adaptable housing. This scarcity not only limits options for Disabled people but also compounds the significance of council decisions that fail to account for their needs.

“We’re calling on decision-makers at a local level to ask themselves “Does the housing in our area meet the needs of Disabled people, and do we give it the attention it truly deserves?”

“I hope senior leaders will take on board the constructive suggestions we make. We acknowledge the housing crisis is a national issue requiring national solutions, but much of the injustice we see could be avoided. By getting the basics right, councils can make meaningful improvements to the services they offer.”

Article date: 19 June 2025