Last reviewed: 12 June 2026.
Key takeaways
- Tenants CAN get a Disabled Facilities Grant; you do not need to own your home.
- Private and housing association tenants need the landlord’s written permission, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse adaptations in most cases.
- Council tenants usually go through the council’s own adaptations process rather than a DFG.
- The grant is means-tested on the disabled person and their partner, not the landlord.
One of the most persistent stairlift myths is that grants are only for homeowners. In fact the Disabled Facilities Grant covers owner-occupiers, private tenants, housing association tenants and licensees alike. What changes is the process. Here is how it works for each tenure in 2026.
Private tenants
You apply to the local council exactly as a homeowner would (how to apply for a DFG), with one addition: the landlord’s written consent. Under the Equality Act, a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse consent for a disability-related adaptation like a stairlift, particularly since removal is non-destructive (does removal damage stairs?). The council may ask you to confirm you intend to stay in the property for the grant period (normally five years for owner-occupiers, but applied more flexibly to tenants). A condition of most consents is reinstating the property when you leave, which professional removal handles.
Housing association tenants
Two routes: a DFG via the council, or the association’s own adaptations budget. Many associations prefer to do the work themselves through their aids-and-adaptations service, which can be faster than the DFG queue. Start with your housing officer, and if the association cannot fund it, the DFG remains open to you.
Council tenants
Most councils adapt their own housing stock through the housing department rather than a DFG. Apply via your council’s adult social care or housing adaptations team; an occupational therapist assessment will usually be arranged. The means test is often gentler or absent for council stock, and the lift may be installed, maintained and owned by the council.
Practical notes for all tenants
- The means test looks at the disabled person’s (and partner’s) income and savings, not the landlord’s: who qualifies.
- Maximum amounts: £30,000 England, £36,000 Wales, £25,000 Northern Ireland; Scotland runs a percentage-based scheme: grants by country.
- Timelines run months, not weeks (application timeline); a short rental can bridge the gap: renting while you wait.
- If the grant falls short, see DFG shortfall options and charities that help.
This is general information, not legal or benefits advice; rules vary by council and change over time. Figures checked June 2026. Written in accordance with our editorial policy.
