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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/oct/03/disabled-woman-internship-shortage-suitable-homes
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| Disabled woman may lose internship due to shortage of suitable homes | Disabled woman may lose internship due to shortage of suitable homes |
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| A woman faces losing a dream internship at the Department of Health after spending almost two months struggling to find wheelchair accessible rental accommodation in London. | A woman faces losing a dream internship at the Department of Health after spending almost two months struggling to find wheelchair accessible rental accommodation in London. |
| Judith Merry, who suffers from congenital muscular dystrophy and lives with her parents in Aylesbury, was thrilled when she was offered the placement in August. "It would be a great opportunity to gain experience, and really stretch myself," she says. "It meant moving to London, which I was very willing to do." | Judith Merry, who suffers from congenital muscular dystrophy and lives with her parents in Aylesbury, was thrilled when she was offered the placement in August. "It would be a great opportunity to gain experience, and really stretch myself," she says. "It meant moving to London, which I was very willing to do." |
| However, her search for somewhere to move to has so far led only to frustration. "My mum and I are both making calls and we must have spoken to more that 50 agents so far – we spend the whole time either on the phone or waiting to hear back from people," she says. | However, her search for somewhere to move to has so far led only to frustration. "My mum and I are both making calls and we must have spoken to more that 50 agents so far – we spend the whole time either on the phone or waiting to hear back from people," she says. |
| Merry's plight highlights the dearth of suitable rental property in the capital and the difficulty many disabled people have in identifying those homes that are appropriate for their needs. | Merry's plight highlights the dearth of suitable rental property in the capital and the difficulty many disabled people have in identifying those homes that are appropriate for their needs. |
| A report published by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in the summer showed that seven out of 10 young disabled people had found it difficult to identify property that might be accessible because lettings agents had poor knowledge of adapted homes in their area. | A report published by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in the summer showed that seven out of 10 young disabled people had found it difficult to identify property that might be accessible because lettings agents had poor knowledge of adapted homes in their area. |
| Four out of 10 said they had been told a property they were about to view was accessible, only to discover otherwise on arrival, while a quarter said a landlord had refused to carry out minor disability-related adjustments and adaptations, or refused to let them make their own. | Four out of 10 said they had been told a property they were about to view was accessible, only to discover otherwise on arrival, while a quarter said a landlord had refused to carry out minor disability-related adjustments and adaptations, or refused to let them make their own. |
| Council or housing association property is only available to people who have lived in London for at least six months, so Merry's search, like other newcomers, is focused on the private rental market. | Council or housing association property is only available to people who have lived in London for at least six months, so Merry's search, like other newcomers, is focused on the private rental market. |
| An accessible property portal designed to cater for people in her position proved unhelpful, with very few agents using it to list suitable homes. | An accessible property portal designed to cater for people in her position proved unhelpful, with very few agents using it to list suitable homes. |
| The biggest problem is the lack of information from lettings agents, says Merry: "I use websites like Zoopla and Findaproperty to find places, then go through to the agents' sites, then call to ask about the property. I need to know if it has level access, if there is a lift, what the bathroom is like. Often the agent doesn't know, so you end up chasing lots of people. | The biggest problem is the lack of information from lettings agents, says Merry: "I use websites like Zoopla and Findaproperty to find places, then go through to the agents' sites, then call to ask about the property. I need to know if it has level access, if there is a lift, what the bathroom is like. Often the agent doesn't know, so you end up chasing lots of people. |
| "There was one place I went to look at because the bedroom was on the ground floor, but when I arrived there were steps up to the front door. I had to view the rooms from outside while my mum went in and took photos." | "There was one place I went to look at because the bedroom was on the ground floor, but when I arrived there were steps up to the front door. I had to view the rooms from outside while my mum went in and took photos." |
| Even properties that are advertised as having wheelchair access have proved inappropriate. Merry's search for flat shares on the website Spareroom yielded several results for properties that had been marked as accessible but had stairs to the doors, or bathrooms that were too small for her to use. | Even properties that are advertised as having wheelchair access have proved inappropriate. Merry's search for flat shares on the website Spareroom yielded several results for properties that had been marked as accessible but had stairs to the doors, or bathrooms that were too small for her to use. |
| Her original budget of £500 a month for a room was optimistic in London's booming rental market, but even trebling that has not helped her search, which is focused on areas close to the wheelchair-friendly Jubilee line on the underground, the Docklands Light Railway and other overground stations she knows to be accessible. | Her original budget of £500 a month for a room was optimistic in London's booming rental market, but even trebling that has not helped her search, which is focused on areas close to the wheelchair-friendly Jubilee line on the underground, the Docklands Light Railway and other overground stations she knows to be accessible. |
| "The internship was meant to start in October, with the date dependent on when I could find accommodation, but I'm not sure what will happen if I cannot find somewhere," she said. "I rely on people to drive me so I cannot commute in from Aylesbury." | "The internship was meant to start in October, with the date dependent on when I could find accommodation, but I'm not sure what will happen if I cannot find somewhere," she said. "I rely on people to drive me so I cannot commute in from Aylesbury." |
| Bobby Ancil, project manager of Trailblazers, a 400-strong group of young disabled campaigners who tackle social issues affecting disabled people, said the "sad truth" was that Merry's case was not unusual. | Bobby Ancil, project manager of Trailblazers, a 400-strong group of young disabled campaigners who tackle social issues affecting disabled people, said the "sad truth" was that Merry's case was not unusual. |
| There was a lack of information about which properties were accessible, he said, which was "adding to the burden of an acute lack of step-free housing stock and inconsistent quotas for new properties built to be suitable for disabled tenants". | There was a lack of information about which properties were accessible, he said, which was "adding to the burden of an acute lack of step-free housing stock and inconsistent quotas for new properties built to be suitable for disabled tenants". |
| He added: "Ironically, London is actually leading the way in terms of accessible homes: all new housing in London must be built to Lifetime Homes standard and 10% built to wheelchair accessible standard. | He added: "Ironically, London is actually leading the way in terms of accessible homes: all new housing in London must be built to Lifetime Homes standard and 10% built to wheelchair accessible standard. |
| "We need the rest of the UK to follow London's example. The key is for estate and letting agents to gain understanding of accessible property,and their disabled customer base, to make sure these homes reach the people who need them." | "We need the rest of the UK to follow London's example. The key is for estate and letting agents to gain understanding of accessible property,and their disabled customer base, to make sure these homes reach the people who need them." |
| Top mortgages | Top mortgages |
| Chelsea Building Society | Chelsea Building Society |
| HSBC | HSBC |
| Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Provided by London & Country for the Guardian |