Helping more tenants with accessibility needs find the right home

Did you know that…

In 2018, the largest ever survey on wheelchair users and their housing needs was carried out by Abode Impact. It found that;

• 50% of respondents said they would like to privately rent a home, but only 18% are currently living in the Private Rented Sector (PRS)
• 91% have experienced barriers to accessing the PRS
• 4 in 5 are currently living in a home that does not fully meet their needs as a wheelchair user

More information on accessibility is one of the most common requests we get from prospective tenants

What can you expect from the guide?

In the guide, you will find a shortlist of key phrases, recommended by experts, to begin using in the property description, which will help those in a wheelchair find a suitable rental property. By consistently using these key phrases in the right way, you can help us to collate the information needed for someone in a wheelchair to decide whether a listing provides the accessibility needs for them.

We understand that accessibility is a complex area. That’s why for this guide we have focused on a first step, how to make it easier for wheelchair users looking to rent to find a home.

The key things from this guide we’d like you to take away are;

1. Begin thinking about accessibility when collecting information about a property
2. Understand the information a tenant is looking for and why
3. Use consistent key terminology displayed clearly in listings to assist those searching for an accessible property on Rightmove
4. Provide additional information where possible to help prospective tenants decide if a property is accessible and suitable for them

Download the accessibility guide

Why are we doing this?

We’re sharing this guide with agents with the ambition that collecting accessible information to aid wheelchair users becomes more commonplace and uses consistent terms.