Abode Impact was founded in 2018 to increase the supply of high-quality, accessible housing in the UK Private Rented Sector (PRS) and deliver meaningful social impact for wheelchair users and their families. The idea was sparked by one of the founders who experienced first-hand how difficult it was for their late brother-in-law, a wheelchair user, to find a home that truly met his needs.
 

To understand whether this was an isolated challenge, Abode Impact surveyed 448 wheelchair user households across the UK. The findings were stark: 80% were living in homes that did not fully meet their needs, and over 90% faced barriers accessing suitable rental properties. The Equality and Human Rights Commission similarly reported that one in three disabled private renters were living in unsuitable accommodation — highlighting the scale of the problem.

​

When homes don’t work, independence, employment and wellbeing suffer, placing avoidable pressure on families and public services.  

 

Backed by research and built in partnership with wheelchair users, landlords and investors, Abode Impact shows that accessible homes can sit confidently within mainstream portfolios — delivering strong financial returns alongside measurable social value. We now work with some of the UK’s largest PRS organisations to ensure these homes are rented to the people they were designed for.

​