Housing Adaptations Policy equality impact assessment

Name of policies to be assessed

Housing Adaptations Policy

1. What is the main purpose of the policies?

To set out the criteria by which Colchester City Council will assess requests for adaptations to its properties. 

2. What main areas or activities does the policies cover?

The provision of adaptations to tenants of Colchester City Council. 

3. Are there changes to an existing policy being considered in this assessment?

No changes to the principles of the policy, a simple refresh to ensure clarity and consistency across other housing policies. 

4. Who are the main audience, users or customers who will be affected by the policy?

The main groups who will be affected by the policy are:

• Members of staff
• Current tenants
• Future tenants

5. What outcomes does the council want to achieve from the policy?

The outcomes that the policy should achieve are:

• To assist tenants to remain in their home by adapting their home to aid independent living. 
• Make best use of council stock by ensuring that options to move are explored for tenants who require adaptations, but live in a property that is too big for their housing need. 
• To ensure the future use of the council’s housing stock by ensuring that adaptations will not affect the efficient letting of properties once the current tenant moves out. 

6. Are other service areas or partner agencies involved in delivery?

• Colchester Borough Homes

7. The ‘general duty’

The ‘general duty’ states that we must have “due regard” to the need to:

1. eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
2. advance equality of opportunity between people who share a ‘protected characteristic¹’ and those who do not²
3. foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not³

Not all policies help us to meet the ‘general duty’, but most do.

This policy helps us to meet the ‘general duty’ by having:

• a fair policy on adaptations in council owned properties which helps to avoid potential discrimination against vulnerable groups by clearly setting out how the council will help with the provision of adaptations for a tenant, their partner or immediate family who is permanently resident in the household or would be if the adaptation was provided
• a fair policy on adaptations in council owned properties which helps to advance equality of opportunity for vulnerable groups by enabling residents to remain in their home
• a fair policy on adaptations in council owned properties which helps to foster good relations by setting out the criteria for receiving adaptations including when it may be necessary to downsize whereby freeing up larger properties for others in need of social housing 

8. Disproportionate impacts

This section helps us to identify any disproportionate impacts. We will indicate whether the policy is likely to particularly benefit or disadvantage any of the 'protected characteristics'.

Where applicable, explain how this policy helps us to improve health/reduce health inequalities for residents:

Providing adaptations for council residents, where it is practical to do so, helps to improve health and reduce health inequalities by aiding mobility and independent living.

Age - older people (60+) and younger people (17-25)

Positive impact

 The provision of adaptations will enable independent living in their choice of home. 

Negative impact

In cases where the provision of an adaptation is not appropriate or will affect the future letting of the property, the tenant will be advised to move to other accommodation and the adaptation will not be carried out. 

Disability – physical, sensory, learning, mental health issues, other

Positive impact

Same as those for age - older people (60+) and younger people (17-25).

Negative impact

Same as those for age - older people (60+) and younger people (17-25).

Disability – learning

Negative impact

Same as those for age - older people (60+) and younger people (17-25).

This group may be disadvantaged by the policy written in English.

Language – English not as a first language

Negative impact

This group may be disadvantaged by the policy written in English.

9. How can negative impacts be minimised or removed?

The policy is in English which may negatively impact those whose first language is not English or who have a sensory disability. Policies are available in alternative formats upon request which can facilitate translation.

The policy is available on the Colchester Borough Homes website which supports Google Translate. The policy is available on the Colchester City Council website which supports alternative formats such as BrowseAloud.

Some tenants may be turned down for an adaptation to their home if it is considered inappropriate or that the future letting of the property may be adversely impacted. However, this has to be balanced with the needs of all tenants and has been considered by Fair Access to Colchester and the Equality and Diversity workshop as an appropriate compromise.

Summary and findings of Initial Equality Impact Assessment

12. Confirmation of findings

There are four options to describe the finding of the EqIA:

1. No negative impacts have been identified – Action is to sign off screening and finish.
2. Negative impacts have been identified but have been minimised or removed  - Action is to sign off screening and finish.
3. Negative impacts could not be minimised or removed – Action is to sign off screening and complete a full impact assessment – Section 2.
4. There is insufficient evidence to make a judgement - Action is to sign off screening and complete a full impact assessment – Section 2.

The findings and action are confirmed as (B). Negative impacts have been identified but have been minimised or removed. The action is to sign off screening and finish.

13. Name and job title of person completing this form

Suzanne Norton – Housing Client Co-ordinator

14. Date of completion

August 2023

15. Date for update or review of this screening

July 2026

• [1] The Equality Act’s `protected characteristics’ include age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex and sexual orientation. It also covers marriage and civil partnerships, but not for all aspects of the duty.
• [2] This involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to: (a) remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a protected characteristic that are connected to that characteristic; (b) take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it, and (c) encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.
• [3] This involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to (a) tackle prejudice, and (b) promote understanding.