The UK’s housing sector is facing a quiet crisis. Across the country, millions of vulnerable people are struggling to access homes that meet even the most basic accessibility standards.

Dubbed the lottery for accessible housing, the situation is no longer just an inconvenience; it’s rapidly becoming a social emergency.

Westbrooke Associates' research demonstrates that, according to the Centre for Ageing Better, only 9% of homes in England currently meet the basic accessibility requirements.

This shortfall disproportionately affects disabled people, older adults and those with long-term health conditions. Moreover, the issue extends beyond regional boundaries and reflects a broader problem nationwide.

“Only one in eight (13%) homes in England have all four accessibility features that mean they can be visited by someone with access needs, with substantial variation across different regions.”

Source: Centre for Ageing Better

Westbrooke Associates Weighs In as Accessible Housing Demand Soars

People are being forced to live in unsafe or unsuitable homes simply because their local authority lacks available stock. Back in 2009, England had 11.4 million disabled people, yet only 900,000 homes met full accessibility standards, creating an accessibility shortfall of 10.5 million.

By 2022, that gap had only widened, as the number of disabled people had risen to 16.1 million. Although the stock of fully accessible homes grew to 3.3 million, the shortfall surged to 12.8 million, an increase of 2.3 million in just over a decade.

Millie Brown, Deputy Director for Homes at Centre for Ageing Better, said:

“The proportions of older and Disabled people among our population are growing significantly and yet there are not enough provisions to support this change in our country’s demographics. We are falling abysmally short of meeting people’s needs."

"We know that the impact of raising minimum accessibility standards could have been life-changing to so many people had it been implemented over the past three years; from performing basic tasks like being able to shower without risking injury, to having the ability to enter the front door and move around easily."

"People living in homes which do not meet their accessibility needs cannot just wait for years and years, clinging to the hope this change might happen at some point in the future, their need is desperate and urgent."

"Everyone deserves to live in a home that affords them safety and independence. Now is the time to make the change and raise the level of what we should expect from our housing.”

Immediate Action Needed to Address the Accessible Housing Shortfall

If the government had followed through with its 2021 commitment to improve accessibility standards in new housing, nearly 900,000 more people could now be living in homes suited to their changing needs.

This missed opportunity, highlighted in recent research by the Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) coalition, stems from a delay in implementing long-promised regulations. These regulations would have required all new homes to include step-free access and basic accessible design features.

Made up of nine organisations united by a common goal, the HoME coalition is urging immediate action to address the UK’s severe lack of accessible housing. They’re calling for the ‘accessible and adaptable’ standard outlined in Approved Document M of the Building Regulations to become the mandatory minimum for all new homes.

In addition, they’re encouraging Local Authorities to align their housing strategies with the real needs of older and disabled people, alongside urging developers and housing associations to prioritise building high-quality, future-proofed homes that truly meet demand.

Local Leaders Call For Urgent Action

Despite broad public support and a clear demographic need, progress has stalled. In the past three years, only an estimated 112,000 homes have been built to modern accessibility standards, just a fraction of the total number of new builds.

This leaves over 375,000 newly constructed homes falling short of inclusive design, exacerbating an already critical shortfall for disabled and ageing residents. With two-thirds of people saying they would struggle to remain in their homes if their health declined, the urgency of reform is clear.

Even more concerning, recent investigations from Inside Housing reveal that targets for accessible homes continue to fall “abysmally short”. Meanwhile, a London Assembly press release declared that the capital is now “facing a severe shortage of accessible housing.”

Local leaders called for urgent action to tackle what they described as a worsening inequality, one that’s increasingly shutting people out of independent living.

A Sector in Crisis Creates Opportunity

Westbrooke Associates closely monitors evolving housing needs, emerging legislation and social impact trends. Our team has observed a surge in interest from investors searching for socially responsible, inflation-proof opportunities.

Subsequently, with accessible housing in such short supply, this moment presents a rare alignment of market demand, government backing and ethical investment strategy.

One of our standout offerings is in partnership with LH1 Global: purpose-built, fully furnished assisted living apartments backed by 25-year government-supported leases.

This is more than an opportunity, it’s a solution. While traditional buy-to-let models continue to struggle under tax hikes, regulations and low yields, assisted living developments provide stability, rental returns that increase by CPI plus 1% and a direct solution to one of the country’s most pressing social issues.

Why Westbrooke Associates?

When searching for transparent, due diligence-led opportunities, many turn to us based on Westbrooke Associates reviews and reputation.

Our investment consultants work exclusively with vetted developers, such as LH1 Global, to bring clients exclusive access to high-demand property types, including those that solve real problems while generating real returns.

Our accessible housing investments offer:

10% NET yields
Start from just £145,000
Include full repairing & insuring (FRI) 25-year contracts
Feature no ground rent, service charges or void periods
Deliver ethical, long-term growth aligned with social impact goals

A Changing Legal and Policy Landscape

Regulatory pressure is only increasing. The Renters Reform Bill, currently advancing through Parliament, is set to eliminate no-fault evictions and introduce fixed-term tenancies, further complicating traditional rental models.

These changes, while tenant-focused, are causing many landlords to exit the market, resulting in a flood of poorly maintained stock and driving investors toward new, managed alternatives.

Moreover, as we have learned, local authorities are also under increasing pressure to meet disability needs and those of an ageing population. As such, assisted living properties offer a direct route for councils to house vulnerable residents safely and cost-effectively.

Ready to Align Profit with Purpose?

Westbrooke Associates believes that now is the time to act. The crisis in accessible housing isn’t going away. Investors who move first stand to benefit most.

Just some of the LH1 Global investment benefits include:

Rental returns increase by CPI plus 1%
Government-backed leases
Ethical and impact-driven investing
Demand-driven property sector

Learn More

Visit our investment page or contact our investment relations team today. See why more investors are turning to Westbrooke Associates and why Westbrooke Associates reviews continue to highlight trust, performance and forward-thinking strategies.

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