1. Dr Jacqueline Aneen Campbell, Shelter Cymru Rhyan Berrigan, Disability Wales

2.  Lack of suitable adapted and accessible properties  Social housing often ‘falling short’  Suitable housing needed for disabled people to have independence, choice and control

3.  An AHR is a register that:  · identifies disabled people in need of accessible homes;  · identifies accessible properties, their location and characteristics; and  · enables effective matching of people and suitable homes.

4.  The review was undertaken between July 2012 and December 2012  Primary data collection with stakeholders and service users  Questionnaires, interviews, focus groups ( social landlords and wider stakeholders), document analysis and telephone calls  Peer Researchers

5.  All local authorities have a matching process  Fourteen local authorities told us that there is an AHR in the local authority area  Variation – between AHRs and matching systems

6.  Survey responses  Variation in interpretation  Incorporated into the Common Housing Register

7.  Main rationale was to make best use of existing resources and being better able to match the housing needs of disabled people with available accommodation  Less than two fifths were influenced by Welsh Government policy  Backing and support across local authority boundaries using existing good practice.  Mandatory AHR?

8.  Benefits and impact:  ensuring that adapted properties are retained for the use of disabled people  ensuring that disabled people are being rehoused in sustainable tenancies  Ensure disabled people aren’t housed/left housed in unsuitable accommodation

9.  AHR:  an effective system for identifying accessible/adapted/adaptable properties and ensuring they are available to those who need them  receive specialist training in matching people to their accessible home and feel more confident in their ability to do so  consider a range of holistic needs  more joint working between departments and organisations

10.  The majority of frontline staff who do not use an Accessible Housing Register would like to do so in the future.  Service users would like to see all social landlords use an Accessible Housing Register

11.  Barriers:  restrictions in public sector spending and Housing Benefit reforms; the cost and expertise needed; lack of staff resource; limited housing stock; managing expectations; lack of leadership on the issue and changing service user needs.

12.  Facilitators:  commitment and buy-in from all partners; good record keeping and information sharing and strong partnership working.

13.  Strong support but barriers identified: landlord reluctance and security of tenure  BUT… some success already  Joint initiatives are needed

14.  AHRs should be used  Good practice and specialism already in Wales  Cross organisation and boundary work  Link in with other social landlords  Specialism

15.  Suggestions for social landlords:  Service user involvement and the social model of disability  Partnership working and effective signposting  Monitoring for an effective cost-benefit analysis

16.  Welsh Government should: continue to encourage the use of Accessible Housing Registers and ensures their effective operation. Encouraging cross-boundary work will help to make best use of existing resources and promote consistency, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This also includes encouraging strong leadership across the sector to support the development of new skills and understanding.  Support work in the PRS

17.  Jacquelinec@sheltercymru.org.uk Jacquelinec@sheltercymru.org.uk  Dr Jacqueline Aneen Campbell  Senior Research Officer  Shelter Cymru  02920556060