Disabled people’s rights to housing are enshrined in international conventions and domestic legislation, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UK Equality Act 2010. Despite this, data suggests that many disabled people live in housing that does not meet their needs and limits their ability to live independently.

Statistics from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) provide evidence of these challenges. Data from April 2021 to March 2026 shows that, of the people advised on housing issues by CAB advisers, disabled people were twice as likely to seek advice on the suitability of accommodation and a registered social landlord property.

The Lines Between is a social research agency based in Edinburgh. Our team has been commissioned by CAS, Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), and Shelter Scotland to research the housing-related challenges disabled people face. The project began in April 2026.

Our first task was to review the existing literature on this topic, which highlighted the following barriers:

• A shortage of suitable housing stock.
• Lack of information, advice and support when applying for and seeking accommodation.
• The intersection and impact of other issues beyond a person’s long-term health condition or impairment (such as ethnicity and poverty).
• Some housing providers’ lack of understanding of disabled people’s needs.
• Difficulties accessing adaptations including costs, waiting times and support.
• Varied practices across local authorities.

The literature also described the significant impact of the lack of accessible housing on disabled people’s mental and physical health, and opportunities to engage with employment or education.

Recommendations from the literature encouraged the following changes to improve disabled people’s access to housing:

• Addressing structural factors, such as increasing the accessible housing supply, stronger and more clearly defined targets and quotas for new build developments to include accessible housing, and clearer definitions of ‘accessible’.
• Ensuring that new housing stock is built close to essential services and support, such as GPs, and has strong transport links.
• Increased guidance and training for housing sector staff.
• Improved data collection on current housing stock, adaptations and the disabled population.
• Co-production with disabled people, for example when creating housing policies.
• Increasing accessible information and advice available to disabled people.
• Increased collaboration across organisations, such as with Health and Social Care Partnerships.

To build on the existing findings, we are speaking with disabled people about their experiences of housing through a series of focus groups with people living in different housing tenures. Further focus groups with staff from CAS, Shelter Scotland and GDA will gather additional insights into the housing challenges that disabled people encounter.

The project lead at CAS, Aoife Deery, said: “Homes are more than just four walls, and we know that disabled people are disproportionately affected by a lack of choice and control around their housing. It is essential that the voices and experiences of disabled people are at the heart of shaping policy and driving the changes needed to create a more accessible and inclusive housing system. Everyone must have a safe, warm and affordable home and we urge policymakers to use the findings of the report to ensure that the range of housing needs of disabled people are understood and met in full.”

Overall, the existing data indicates that despite policy and legal efforts to improve the housing experience of disabled people in Scotland, a range of barriers and difficulties remain. Our research is exploring the lived experiences of disabled people and aims to identify ways housing could be improved for them.

The final report will be published in early 2027 and will be available on the cas.org.uk website.

To find out more about Scottish Housing Day and how to get involved, please visit the website.