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For many people, the bathroom is the first room in the house that becomes hard to use. Climbing over a bath, stepping into a high shower tray or getting up from a low toilet can go from mildly awkward to genuinely risky after a fall, an operation or as a condition develops.
Adapting the bathroom can make all the difference to staying safe and independent at home. And if you, or someone you live with, is disabled, you may be able to get help with the cost through a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?
A DFG is a grant from your local council towards changes that help a disabled person live more safely and independently at home. In England, it can pay up to £30,000. Some councils have extra discretionary funding for larger or more complex cases.
Councils in England have £723 million for Disabled Facilities Grants in 2026–27. Demand is high, though, and waiting times vary from council to council, which is another reason to apply early.
What can it pay for?
Bathroom adaptations are among the most common. A DFG can help pay for:
- replacing a bath with a level-access shower or wet room
- grab rails, a shower seat and lever taps
- a raised or comfort-height toilet
- widening doorways for a wheelchair
- moving a bathroom downstairs, or adding a ground-floor shower room.
It can also cover other adaptations around the home, such as ramps, stairlifts and accessible kitchens.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you, or someone living with you, is disabled, and you:
- own the property or are a tenant (private or council), or are a landlord applying for a disabled tenant
- intend to live in the property for at least the next five years, or for as long as health allows.
For adults, the grant is means-tested, so your household income and savings are taken into account. Grants for disabled children under 18 are not means-tested.
How the process works
- Contact your council. Ask about a Disabled Facilities Grant. You’ll usually be referred for an assessment.
- Occupational therapist assessment. An occupational therapist visits to assess what changes are needed. In Essex and Suffolk, this is often arranged through the county council’s adult social care team.
- Application and means test. You complete the grant application with details of your income.
- Quotes. The council will usually ask for quotes from contractors for the agreed work.
- Approval. The council confirms the grant in writing.
- The work is carried out, and the council pays the contractor, usually after inspecting the finished work.
Important: don’t start any work before the grant is approved. Councils usually can’t pay for work that has already begun.
The process can take several months, so it’s worth starting early.
Which council do I contact?
The grant is run by your district, borough or city council, not the county council.
- Clacton-on-Sea, Brightlingsea and Manningtree: Tendring District Council
- Maldon and the Dengie: Maldon District Council
- Sudbury, Hadleigh and Stoke by Nayland: Babergh District Council
- Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill: West Suffolk Council
Search ‘Disabled Facilities Grant’ on your council’s website for its current process and contact details. Some councils use a home improvement agency to help people through the application.
What if I’m not eligible?
If the means test means you’d get little or no grant, you can still adapt your bathroom privately. Some adaptations for disabled people can be zero-rated for VAT, which reduces the cost. HMRC publishes guidance on which work qualifies, and your installer should be able to explain it.
Accessible doesn’t have to look clinical
The best accessible bathrooms don’t look like hospital rooms. Grab rails come in finishes that match your taps. Fold-down shower seats sit neatly against the wall. Level-access showers are exactly what many people choose anyway because they look good. For more ideas, read our guides to replacing a bath with a walk-in shower and wet rooms vs shower enclosures.
Bathroom fitting near you
Frequently asked questions
How long does a DFG take?
It varies by council and how busy the occupational therapy service is. Several months from first contact to work starting is common.
Can I choose my own contractor?
Often, yes, though councils have their own approach. Some keep a list of approved contractors. Ask your council what applies.
Does the grant cover the whole cost?
Up to the maximum, and depending on the means test. If the work costs more, you may need to pay the difference, or ask about discretionary funding.
Talk to us
If you’re thinking about an accessible bathroom, with or without a grant, call us on 01621 503579 or get in touch. We’ll talk you through the options sensitively and without pressure. Find out more about our bathroom installations.
