Lettings agency Knight Frank has partnered with accessible housing consultancy AccessiblePRS to improve access and inclusion in the UK’s private rented sector.

The agency says that across the UK there are over 400,000 wheelchair users who are living in unsuitable properties and 1.8m households containing at least one person with accessible housing needs, who struggle to find suitable properties to rent. 

AccessiblePRS is catalysing access and inclusion by increasing the supply of wheelchair accessible housing in the UK, and in its own words “levelling the playing field for older and disabled renters to find suitable properties, and changing the narrative around accessibility so that the mainstream property sector understands its relevance and benefits.” 

The partnership will see Knight Frank join the organisation’s Accessible Letting Scheme and introduce a range of initiatives across its lettings business, including:

– Using standardised key phrases and words related to accessibility on property listings;

– Training for all staff to understand obstacles to inclusion in lettings; understand disabled renters’ needs; identify potentially suitable properties and provide clearer online information;

– Identifying private rental sector champions across the firm’s lettings division;

– updating the presentation of floorplans, property listings and photography to ensure clarity for potential tenants

– creating inclusive office displays;

– providing a dedicated accessible lettings page on the firm’s website.

Beverley Kennard, head of lettings operations at Knight Frank, says: “We recognise there is an industry-wide problem when it comes to support for those with accessible housing needs. This partnership with AccessiblePRS will enable us to make positive changes, which will open up the viewing process for those with different accessibility needs. We are committed to ensuring the best possible customer experience for our diverse range of customers and clients and look forward to working with the AccessiblePRS team to achieve this.”

And Guy Harris, founder of AccessiblePRS, adds: “I’m delighted to be working with Knight Frank, whose people have been so engaged and focussed. Their early recognition of both the social and commercial opportunities of including more people with diverse housing needs will have a wider influence in property. I value their leadership and influence.”

Knight Frank says it will start rolling out the new initiatives across its lettings business during October and will consider opportunities for expanding the programme to other areas of the business in due course.