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We believe people with learning disabilities should be
treated in exactly the same way as everybody else. Unfortunately, even though
the Government
has introduced legislation to ensure anyone with a disability is treated
equally, very few people with a learning disability buy a home of their own.
Here are the facts. According to the Land Registry,
roughly 71% of the population are home owners. Yet very much less than 1% of
people with learning disabilities are home owners. Sadly, people with learning
disabilities face discrimination in every part of the home buying process.
Here
are fours of the main areas:
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It's almost impossible
to buy even the smallest home because properties are so expensive in all
parts of the country and generally people with learning disabilities have
low incomes or rely on State Benefits
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Mortgage lenders are
reluctant to lend to people with low incomes or who claim State Benefits
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State Benefits
departments are normally unwilling to confirm you'll receive money to
help you pay a mortgage until
you've agreed a specific home to buy - but how can you agree to buy a home
until you know you'll qualify for a payment?
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There's
very little practical help available for people with
learning disabilities who want to buy a home of their own
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As a result of these and many other difficulties, only a few persistent
people with learning disabilities manage to buy a home of their own. We think lots more people with
learning disabilities could benefit from home ownership, including:
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People who live with
their parents or other relatives, who would like a home of their own,
maybe close to where they live already |
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People who live in
rented flats and houses, who could benefit from more choice of where to
live, often in better quality accommodation and with long-term security |
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People who live in
residential care homes, who would like to live more independently |
Supported community living is a great idea, but there's no sensible solution
to make it work for large numbers of people with learning disabilities.
That is, until now!
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