Page 13 - PIC Magazine-Issue-27-Autumn-Winter

An Integrated Solution
There’s more to consider than just
how accessible the property itself is.
Factors outside the property, such as
its location relative to the client’s care
package, school catchment areas,
and reach for therapy and medical
appointments, all matter as much as
physical accessibility measures. That’s
why it’s important to involve property
finders early, so they can collaborate
with occupational therapists,
rehabilitation teams and care providers
rather than simply being handed a
specification. To be effective, this
needs to be an integrated process.
It’s hard to overstate how significant
moving back into a home is for those
who have suffered catastrophic
injuries. It’s a huge step for clients in
regaining their independence. It gives
them room, literally and figuratively,
to heal and rebuild a normal routine,
to parent, work and live their life with
more agency. When that search is
delayed, the cost isn’t only financial:
it shows up in mental and physical
wellbeing, disruptions to rehabilitation,
and the case’s ultimate value.
Why Delay Costs
More Than Time
An unsuitable home can weaken the
accommodation claim and potentially
lead to settling for less. Where
property and costing assessments
are rushed, those rough estimates
and thin documentation can be
picked apart by defendant solicitors,
risking a settlement that covers less
accommodation than the client needs.
Property finding and design costs,
when properly scoped and evidenced
from the outset, are also more readily
recoverable as a disbursement in the
claim; another reason to instruct early
rather than trying to justify rushed
costs retrospectively.
Leaving it too late can also affect a
claim in ways that go beyond the
accommodation claim itself. If a
client’s rehabilitation stalls because
they’re living somewhere that doesn’t
support their recovery, that can show
up in medical evidence and prognosis.
This can in turn drive up interim
care costs, complicate settlement
negotiations and affect the damages
calculated for future care, loss and
quality of life.
Kacy’s Story
Kacy, a young girl who, as a result of
medical negligence at birth, requires an
accessible home built around her complex
needs. Kacy was referred to us via her
Deputy and case manager, both of whom
had worked with Steven Docker Associates
before and understood the value of
instructing a property finder early. From
the outset, our initial consultation brought
together Kacy, her mum, her Deputy and
her Case Manager, making sure we had a
comprehensive understanding of Kacy’s
needs when making our specification.
The brief was highly
specific to Kacy, with a
carer’s en-suite bedroom
and a therapy room with
rehabilitation equipment,
and it was crucial for Kacy’s
family to keep her close
to her school and wider
family in Wrexham, North
Wales, which shaped the
search from the start. Our
team assessed multiple
shortlisted properties for
their planning permission
and adaption feasibility,
rather than waiting until
after a purchase had
already been committed
to and risking hold-ups
or funding pulls. That
early work paid off, as we
negotiated a purchase
price of £50,000 below
asking, allowing the project
to be smoothly handed
over to our Design and
Project Management team
to deliver the adaptations.
What Good
Practice Looks Like
Kacy's case shows how
successful property finding
can be, avoiding stress and
disruption for the family and
staying within budget, when it's
approached as early as possible.
Early referral meant the search
began with full information and
full collaboration between the
family, Deputy, case manager
and solicitors. Feasibility and cost
were tested before committing to any property, not after. And because everything
was properly scoped and evidenced, the family could make decisions with
confidence and negotiate from a strong position.
Property Finding At Steven Docker Associates
Our property finding team specialises in securing the right home for people
with a wide range of disabilities, at every stage of a case, whether that's rental
accommodation while litigation is ongoing, reinstatement of an existing property,
or a permanent forever home. We know how significant a home is for someone
who has sustained a serious injury, and we take the time to properly understand
each client so we can find them somewhere comfortable, enabling and suited to
their specialist needs, at the best possible price.
Working alongside our architectural design team, we collaborate closely with
clients, their loved ones, legal teams and multidisciplinary support teams
throughout, because it's only by listening to everyone involved that we can
build the right bespoke package. From there, we manage viewings, assessments
and design layouts, and take clients through the rental or purchase process to
completion and beyond.
If you have a client who could benefit from expert-led property finding,
get in touch with our team today. Tel: 01477 544 499
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