Leonard Cheshire Disability Accessible Housing Survey

ComRes conducted a survey on behalf of Leonard Cheshire Disability, interviewing 2,006 GB adults aged 18+ online between the 4th and 6th June 2014; including 238 who self-identified as having a mobility impairment. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+.

Date Published: 15 Jul 2014

Categories: Health | Public and communities | Social | Third Sector | UK

Description

ComRes conducted a survey on behalf of Leonard Cheshire Disability, interviewing 2,006 GB adults aged 18+ online between the 4th and 6th June 2014; including 238 who self-identified as having a mobility impairment. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+.

The survey shows that more than one in ten adults (11%) say that they have mobility problems, meaning they are likely to need access to disabled-friendly homes. But Britain’s homes simply are not fit for people with mobility problems:

o    Around three quarters (72%) say that they do not have an accessible door into their building (that is one that is easy to get into);

o    Around two thirds (63%) say that they do not have a bathroom large enough to fit a wheelchair into;

o    More than half (52%) say that they do not have doors and hallways wide enough for a wheelchair; and

o    Half (50%) say that they do not have stairs big enough for a stair-lift to be fitted.

Many Britain adults reporting mobility problems live in homes which leave them unable to do the basics that the rest of us take for granted:

o    More than one in ten (12%) find it very difficult to prepare a meal in their current home

o    More than one in twenty (6%) find it very difficult to sleep in their bedroom rather than their lounge or kitchen – due to the inaccessibility of their homes;

o    More than one in fifteen (7%) find it very difficult to even get in their front door.