What Does A Council Wet Room Look Like?

Local councils often conduct home assessments on the request of their residents which helps https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/home-adaptations/in deciding the best course of action to make adaptations to their premises to meet the needs of the claimants. Through this article, we will learn more about what a council wet room looks like, how to get a wet room approved by the local council and what to do in case your wet room application gets refused.

What Does A Council Wet Room Look Like?

A basic wet room is just a tiled and open shower area without the shower screen and tray. While some wet rooms have a glass panel to contain water splashes, some may have a tiled partition area.

Due to space constraints, it may not be possible to keep your bath and shower area both, therefore when a wet room is to be made, the bath will have to be removed.

In most cases, a wet room has a special flooring material that enables a stronger grip with wet feet and provides an anti-slip function. Due to the open space layout and texturised flooring of a wet room, maintenance and cleaning of a wet room are much easier as compared to a traditional bathrom.

The shower area usually slopes towards a drain so that there is no water logging and accidents can be maximally avoided. Where needed, a mechanical pump may need to be installed so that the water keeps getting frained while someone is in the shower.

You may also need a shower seat in a wet room to avoid slipping while taking a shower. A wall fixed fold-down seat is mostly recommended by councils. If need be, grab rails can also be installed. However, an Occupational Therapist will be able to advise as per individual needs once they visit the premises for an assessment. 

While a builder/contractor may be able to give a more accurate estimate, it generally takes between 7 to 14 days to have a wet room installed.

It may be interesting to note that the addition of a wet room may increase the value of your property by 2.88 per cent when you sell it.

How Can I Get Wet Room From Council?

In case you are a council housing resident, the entire cost of a wet room will be taken care of by the local council office. In case you are a private housing resident, the amount of financial support extended by council authorities will be based on the result of your means-test. Private homeowners may find it easier to get council help; while private tenants will also need to seek permission from their landlord and agree to certain terms of tenancy.

Once a resident applies for a wet room facility to their local council office, an occupational therapist visits their home to assess the premises and gather information regarding the applicant’s need for a wetroom, the reason(s) for the application, as well as to conduct an overview of their current living conditions.   

In certain conditions, the assessment may reveal the need only for minor adaptations to the premises without the necessity of a wet room. These may include the following:

  • Adapted chairs and beds
  • Bath seats and shower stools
  • Concrete steps or ramps
  • Hand/Grab rails
  • Raised toilet seats
  • Security lights
  • Thermostatically controlled mixers

These may be covered under the Minor Adaptation Grant and are estimated to cost less than or around £1,000. In such a case the entire cost is borne by the council authorities  

However, when major adaptations such as wetrooms are required to be made to the structure of the premises, the council will not be able to cover the costs on their own and the applicant will need to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant through them. Residents in England can apply for a grant of up to £30,000.

After the assessment is complete and there is an agreement on the funding amount, council authorities will hire a contractor (generally through a process of raising a tender) to proceed with the work. Payments and the terms of engagement are managed directly through council authorities with the contractor.

Who Is Eligible For A Disabled Facilities Grant?

To be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant, the applicant must fulfil the below conditions:

  • Either the applicant or a member of their household is living with a disability
  • The affected person must either be a house owner or tenant who intends to continue living on the premises for a minimum of five years 

The amount of funding that the applicant will receive in this case will depend on their income and savings, which will be assessed through a means test. On the basis of the results, the council will decide the amount that they may be able to arrange through the grant and the amount that the applicant is expected to pay for.

In addition to wetrooms, the Disabled Facilities Grant can also provide for the following:

  • Improvement of garden safety
  • Widening of doors to improve access
  • Construction of an external ramp
  • Improved heating and lighting installations
  • Installation of stair and through floor lifts
  • Kitchen improvements to facilitate food preparation

What Happens If Council Rejects My Wet Room Application?

In case your application for the wet room is refused on grounds of ineligibility and the council does not provide your financial support through grant funding, they may still be able to advise you on how and where to purchase low-cost material for the adaptation to your house.

If you are unable to find such help, you will still be able to seek guidance through:

  • Charity Assistance
  • Council Tax Reductions
  • Disable Related Financial Support
  • Home Improvement Agencies
  • VAT Relief

What Are VAT Exemption Schemes For Wet Room?

If your application for Disabled Facilities Grant is rejected by the council and you still need to proceed with home adaptations, you may be able to find equipment at VAT exempted rates. This can reduce your adaptation cost significantly.

Applicants who have suffered a stroke or are suffering from arthritis can claim 0 per cent VAT exemption on the supply and installation of the following items:

  • Accessible Showers
  • Door Widening
  • Kitchen Adaptations
  • Mobility Wet Rooms

In the other case, 5 per cent VAT exemption is available on the following:

  • Access Ramps
  • A Walk-In Bath
  • Grab Rails

Can I Apply For A Council Tax Discount For Home Renovations?

To be able to qualify for a council tax discount while your home is being renovated, you must inform your local council office prior to the commencement of the repair work at your premises (or as soon as possible once the work starts. If the claimant informs their local council after the renovations are complete, they will be required to provide substantial evidence to be considered for a council tax discount.

The next steps will be as follows:

Step 1: The council contacts the residents and sends a representative to survey the premises.

Step 2: If the property qualifies for a discount, the reduced amount of council tax will remain applicable for an entire year (this may be up to a 100 per cent discount).

Step 3: Once the property becomes inhabited, residents liable for council tax payments must inform their local council within 21 days.

Step 4 (a): If the property remains unfurnished and uninhabited for less than 2 years, a full council tax bill becomes applicable.

Step 4 (b): If the property remains unfurnished and uninhabited for more than 2 years, residents will be liable to pay a premium called “empty house premium”. This is an additional charge over and above the full amount of their council tax bill.

Conclusion:

Through this article, we’ve learnt that wet rooms can be customised as per the needs of the residents. However, one thing that remains common is that nearly all wet rooms have anti-slip flooring, a shower area usually covered by a screen or shower curtains on one side and an enhanced drainage system to avoid water clogging. To be able to avail a wet room through council funding, you can apply at your local council office. They will send an Occupational Therapist to assess your needs and advise accordingly.

FAQs: What Does A Council Wet Room Look Like?

What is the difference between a wet room and a walk-in shower?

A wet room is essentially a tiled and open shower area without the shower screen and tray. While some wet rooms have a glass panel to contain water splashes, some may have a tiled partition area. A walk-in shower on the other hand is a panelled area covered with a screen or curtains with a low-level shower tray.

What does a wet room include?

A wet room is just a tiled and open shower area without the shower screen and tray. While some wet rooms have a glass panel to contain water splashes, some may have a tiled partition area. In most cases, a wet room has a special flooring material that enables a stronger grip with wet feet and provides an anti-slip function. The shower area usually slopes towards a drain so that there is no water logging and accidents can be maximally avoided. 

What are the disadvantages of a wet room?

A wet room can become very damp, may have drainage issues, may be costly depending on the residents needs to adapt may not be functionally viable for some people. Therefore, despite all the prerequisites of a wetroom, certain elderly residents may still require a carer’s help.

What is the smallest size for a wet room?  

The smallest size that is recommended for a wet room is 800 x 800mm. This includes a shower area, toilet and washbasin. Due to space constraints, it may not be possible to keep your bath and shower area both, therefore when a wet room is to be made, the bath will have to be removed.

Can you put a bath in a wet room?

Unless you have ample space, placing a bath in a wet room may confine the space to being congested with a shower area, toilet and washbasin already in place. Due to space constraints, it may not be possible to keep your bath and shower area both, therefore when a wet room is to be made, the bath is usually removed.

References:

Wet rooms – the essential guide to creating the perfect shower space

Guide to Accessible Shower Installations.

How to get a wet room from the council – Bella Bathrooms Blog

How Your Local Council Can Help You Install Your Wet Room

Home adaptations for older people and people with disabilities – NHS

Disability Grants For Home Improvement | More Ability

Disabled Facilities Grants: What you’ll get – GOV.UK

A Guide to Benefits for disabled children – Working Families

Properties uninhabitable due to building repair work | warrington.gov.uk