Learning Disability England has been working in partnership with researchers from the University of York and the University of Bristol, Riverside, Housing LIN and Stephen Lee Hodgkins on a research project.

The project team also has an advisory group of self-advocates with lived experience from York People First and My Life, My Choice.

People with learning disabilities have said that ‘a home‘ was one of the most important things about leading a good life.

This project is about finding better ways to support people with learning disabilities at the edges of social care into social and private rented housing.

The first stage of the research looked at options available for people at the edges of social care to live in ‘ordinary’ rented housing in the community.

This involved holding large roundtable events attended by lots of professionals and experts by experience.

Read the summary report from this here.

The second stage involved the researchers interviewing 35 people with learning disabilities who rent their own homes.

You can read the findings from the interviews here.

The team has also written a set of 10 renting recommendations for people with learning disabilities that they came up with after doing these stages of the research.

You can read those here.

They have also produced 10 recommendations for landlords.

You can read those here.

Gary Bourlet has shared his thoughts on why this research and it’s recommendations are so important…

“Living independently is the goal for many people with learning disabilities. This is about being able to live with the same freedoms as everyone else in the community but also having the option of support that you need, when you need it.

Lots of times it is assumed that people with learning disabilities don’t want to or won’t be able to rent their own homes. This research looks at how we can give people the support they need to make it possible, as it definitely is possible.

I have had some terrible experiences myself in the past, with landlords coming into my home and invading my privacy. I am now very happy in my rented flat and my landlord understands that my space is my own. People with learning disabilities need privacy and the freedom to live how they choose and even make mistakes. Just like everyone else.“