{"id":5404,"date":"2024-04-19T10:24:34","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T10:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schofields.ltd.uk\/blog\/?p=5404"},"modified":"2024-04-19T11:04:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T11:04:12","slug":"accessible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schofields.ltd.uk\/blog\/5404\/accessible\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Holiday Cottage Disabled Friendly"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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There are many things to consider when booking a holiday cottage, such as which area to stay in, are the dates available, how much will it cost and what is there to do nearby. But there are a lot of extra considerations for those with disabilities that make finding the perfect place to stay complex. Their priority is to find a cottage that\u2019s suitable for their disability before they can tick off the other requirements.<\/p>\n

According to disability equality charity\u00a0Scope<\/a>, there are 16 million disabled people in the UK.\u00a0 But when it comes to holidays, it\u2019s still common to find that the accommodation available is simply not properly adapted for those with a disability.<\/p>\n

Everyone, regardless of their needs, deserves to have an amazing holiday experience and to have peace of mind that their accommodation is first-rate. Here are some tips on how holiday cottage owners can make a few changes to make their property accessible for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

The advantages of making your holiday cottage accessible for disabled travellers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The good news for holiday let businesses looking to adapt their properties for disabled travellers is that the demand for accessible accommodation outstrips the current supply. So, by making your property more accessible, you could potentially tap into a huge market of travellers with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Disabled travellers also tend to be loyal and return to accommodation they have stayed in before because they know it has the specialist facilities required and it removes the stress of trying to find somewhere else suitable.<\/p>\n

Whilst there are thousands of holiday cottages for rent in the UK, a notable proportion of these are still not accessible for disabled travellers.\u00a0 Adapting aspects of your holiday home enables you to offer something your rivals don\u2019t, so you\u2019d have a unique selling point.<\/p>\n

Undertake an access audit<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The purpose of an access audit is to help holiday cottage owners identify reasonable adjustments that may be required for guests with mobility, cognitive and sensory impairments.<\/p>\n

It is recommended that the audit follows the guest\u2019s journey through the holiday home. This includes the arrival, entry into the property, access to each of the rooms and facilities provided then finally to the exit route. The audit should also consider how people with additional requirements would exit in the event of an emergency.<\/p>\n

Are there narrow doorways and halls, hard-to-reach appliances, or areas of the holiday home that are only accessible by stairs or difficult to manoeuvre in? Once you have done your audit you can start to think about modifications to increase accessibility in your holiday cottage.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>You could also hire a trained professional to undertake an access audit and provide actionable recommendations. Here are a couple of resources to find access consultants:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nrac.org.uk\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/accessibleuk.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n

How to make your holiday cottage accessible<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Making your holiday home accessible for people with disabilities doesn\u2019t have to be a huge project involving significant structural changes. There are a wide range of possible disabilities that guests could have, and a variety of ways you can accommodate their requirements. You don\u2019t necessarily have to adapt your property specifically for disabled visitors. With clever design you can make the accessible facilities and equipment available if required and, if not, they simply blend into the design.<\/p>\n

Adaptations to consider for inside your property<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>There are several indoor modifications you can make, here are a few suggestions to consider.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n