What Has the Government Announced?
The UK Government has confirmed its Better Care Fund (BCF) framework for 2026 to 2027, setting out how £9.15 billion will be spent on integrated health and social care services across England. For anyone considering a stairlift or home adaptation, the headline figure that matters most is £723 million ring-fenced for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), the primary source of government funding for stairlift installations in the UK. A further £12 million has been committed on top of this core allocation.
Published by the Department of Health and Social Care alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the framework marks the beginning of a broader reform programme designed to shift care from hospitals into local communities, with a strong emphasis on helping people stay independent at home for longer.
Alongside this funding settlement, two other developments are shaping the accessible housing landscape: a new formula for distributing DFG funding to local councils, and a growing push from local authorities for more ambitious accessible housing targets in new-build developments.
A New Formula for Distributing DFG Funding
For the first time in over a decade, the way councils receive their share of DFG funding has changed. The previous allocation model, in place since 2011, no longer reflected where the greatest need actually exists. Following a public consultation, the government has introduced a modernised, needs-based formula built on six data-driven components: the number of disabled adults in each area, the population of older non-disabled residents aged 65 and above, local income deprivation scores, the prevalence of disabled children, the proportion of homes outside a council’s own housing stock, and a regional building-cost index to account for geographic price differences.
The intention is to align funding more closely with actual local need. Areas with higher concentrations of older or disabled residents, greater deprivation, or more expensive building costs should receive a fairer share of the overall pot. Transitional protections are in place so that no council receives less funding than it did in June 2025, giving local authorities time to adjust.
For homeowners and tenants thinking about applying for DFG funding towards a stairlift, the practical impact depends on where you live. If your local authority has historically been underfunded relative to demand, waiting times may improve and more applications could be approved. Councils in areas with ageing populations and high levels of disability are expected to benefit most. On the other hand, some councils that previously received a larger share may see their allocation stabilise or gradually reduce over time.
The £30,000 Grant Cap Stays Put
One area where the consultation did not deliver change is the maximum grant limit. Despite strong calls from local authorities, housing organisations, and disability groups to raise the cap, the government has kept it at £30,000. According to industry data, the average cost of a high-value adult adaptation claim is around £46,000, while children’s adaptations average closer to £58,000, meaning many families still face a significant funding gap for complex work.
Some councils publish local housing assistance policies that allow them to top up grants beyond the £30,000 limit or waive means testing for lower-cost adaptations like grab rails. However, the financial capacity of councils to do this varies enormously.
For those seeking a stairlift specifically, the good news is that most standard installations fall well within the grant limit. Typical UK prices reported by industry sources range from around £2,000 to £3,500 for a straight stairlift, and £3,200 to £5,500 or more for curved models. Even with survey costs and any building work, most stairlift installations can be fully covered by a DFG where the applicant qualifies.
Councils Push for Higher Accessible Housing Targets
While the DFG helps people adapt existing homes, the debate over new-build accessibility is equally significant. More than 20 local authorities have told the government that its proposed minimum target for accessible new housing is not ambitious enough.
The issue centres on the M4(2) standard within England’s Building Regulations, which requires features such as step-free access at entrance level, wider doorways and corridors, and layouts designed so that homes can be adapted easily over time. The government consulted on a new policy that would set a national floor of 40 per cent M4(2) compliance for new housing developments. The consultation closed in March and a formal response is expected soon.
A survey carried out by the Centre for Ageing Better found that councils overwhelmingly agreed this target could be raised. Freedom of Information requests revealed that some local authorities are already far exceeding 40 per cent. Bassetlaw District Council, for example, achieved 90 per cent M4(2) compliance across more than 1,000 homes built between 2022 and 2025. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has adopted a development plan requiring 95 per cent compliance for new major residential developments.
The Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) Coalition, co-chaired by the Centre for Ageing Better and Habinteg Housing Association, is calling on the government to raise the minimum. Their concern is that a low floor will create a postcode lottery, with some areas building far more accessible homes than others. Polling carried out on their behalf found that more than three in four people think all new homes should be built to a standard that allows people to live independently as they age or if they become disabled.
Why This Matters for Homeowners and Families
Research by the Centre for Ageing Better found that around 12 million people in England do not have their accessibility needs met by the property they live in. The vast majority of homes, roughly 87 per cent, lack all four basic accessibility criteria that make a home visitable for most people. Regional disparities are stark: around 17 per cent of homes in London meet these criteria, compared with just 8 per cent in the North West and West Midlands.
For older homeowners, these figures translate into real, daily challenges. A home without step-free access, without wide enough doorways for a walking frame, or without a ground-floor bathroom can become unsafe as mobility changes. Falls are one of the most serious risks, with around a third of people aged 65 and over experiencing at least one fall per year. Many of these falls happen at home, and poor housing design is a contributing factor.
The government’s broader strategic direction is encouraging. The 10 Year Health Plan for England sets out an ambition to build “neighbourhood health services” that bring care closer to where people live, rather than relying on hospitals. The BCF framework specifically asks local health bodies to review and expand home-based intermediate care, ensuring that people receive the right support to recover at home rather than being admitted to residential care. A well-timed stairlift installation can be the difference between an older person safely returning home after a fall and a preventable admission to a care home.
What You Can Do Now
If you or a family member are finding it difficult to move around your home safely, there are practical steps you can take rather than waiting for new housing standards or funding reforms to take effect.
Contact your local council’s housing or adult social care team to request a DFG assessment. You do not need a referral from your GP, though your GP can support your application. Ask your council whether they have a local housing assistance policy that offers additional support beyond the standard DFG. The application process starts with a needs assessment, usually carried out by an occupational therapist arranged through your local council. Adults are means-tested, but children under 19 are not. Councils are required to make a decision on a properly completed application within six months.
If you are recovering from a hospital stay or fall, ask about intermediate care and reablement services. These short-term programmes are designed to help you regain independence, and they may include an assessment of whether home adaptations such as a stairlift would support your recovery.
For those considering a stairlift, comparing options from different stairlift companies is a sensible first step. For a full guide to applying for a stairlift grant through the DFG, visit our stairlift grants page.
The push for better-funded adaptations and more accessible new homes is encouraging. But for millions of people already living in properties that do not meet their needs, practical home adaptations remain the most immediate route to safer, more independent living.
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