In a cool and wet evening, Sam Lewis moves to his local gym for a shower. This is a painful and slow journey, using a moving rod.

The rheumatism of 34 -year -old means that she risk falling when climbing into a bath in her flat. Simple changes such as grabbing rail or walk-in shower will make it safe, but two councils have failed to assess it in their rented houses.

Disabled and elderly residents may be entitled to funding – whether home owners, private tenants or Housing Association tenants – for changes ranging from stair and accessible bathrooms to structural extensions.

Funding housing adaptation can save money for a long time by reducing the need for social care and reducing the burden on NHS.

In England, 95% regularly adaptation should not take more than six months – the government says – with all but the most complex jobs were completed within nine months.

But in the last five years, the time of completion of the average has increased by 18%, the figures obtained by the BBC show.

It now stands up for 357 days in the regions of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where the same council, or in the case of northern Ireland, is overseen – housing executive.

Northern Ireland is the worst delay, which takes about two and a half years to meet average adaptation.

Scotland has a separate funding model – so in the case of data is not comparable.

Sam, a private tenant from London, says that he has never seen a fully accessible property available during online discoveries.

In three flats rented by him, everyone has rained the bath. But when his condition is the worst, his feet are very rigid to get up on the edge.

“I feel very worried about slipping,” says Sam.

If she cannot climb in a bath, but can manage the walk, Sam rains in her local gym. She says that she has traveled to bathe 150 times in four years.

“It has a really negative effect on your self-image and your time,” she says.

This is more than four years because she says that she first applied for help, while in her first fare. The council must identify a “person-centric” evaluation to identify whether the individuals qualify. Zamindars cannot deny an adaptation without good reasons.

Without adaptation, Sam worries that his weak position will deteriorate faster. It will make it difficult to stay in work.

There is a push by the government to bring people with disabilities into employment, she says, but it seems that “anyone there to help” helps reduce obstacles.

Housing optimization experts and councils say that the system is under stress. The demand will be accelerated only in the coming years – they say – the elderly population increases and already in complex cases involving children with special requirements.

Cases are going on even after five years or more in at least 21 local council areas of England and Wales – BBC has found. Some of the 317 officers responded to freedom of our information requests.

• ‘I am 48 years old, I should not stay at home’

“Months and months have gone when no one (in the council) would respond to the phone,” says Clair.

The maximum amount of maximum amounts can be provided under the grant of disabled facilities in England set by the government, £ 30,000. This is-tested for adults, but not for children, and is currently being reviewed.

In the case of Claire and Emilia, the estimated cost of expansion is £ 60,000, which they believe is the cause of delay. “It’s all about money,” she says.

If the councils have enough money in their home adaptation budget, they can choose to provide additional money, but not all. Social services can also provide financial assistance.

Two and a half years later, the building work is ready to start soon.

The Newcastle-Ein-Lim Boro Council stated that it was a “complex case” and needed to obtain the necessary permission to resolve additional funding and expand the property “.

It says that it is working to reduce the delay. Other councils are also taking steps.

In Gloustershire, NHS Occupational Therapist Neil Withnel is working with six local authorities, which to speed up cases – to train additional employees for assessment and provide additional funds for people on low income.

Adaptation, they say, “life-changing” can be.

England’s adaptation system is being expanded, increasing from £ 86m to £ 711m, aimed at 7,800 and allowing people to reach support.

But the local government association, which speaks to local councils, says additional funding “does not deal with the underlying issues”, amid growing demand, to assess shortage of professional physicians and meet wide funds.

The government told the BBC that “many councils” in England are meeting legal requirements, “delay is unacceptable”.

Disability campaigners say that the government should now take action to help private tenants like Sam.

Ten councils did not meet a single adaptation for a private tenant last year, the data obtained by the BBC. Official figures show that 16% of the working age people live privately in homes hired.

One of the previous local authorities of Sam, Ealing, did over 1,300 domestic adaptations between April 2019 and March 2023, yet for only three private tenants.

Sam says, “I am not surprised at all”

The government says that the rights bills of its upcoming tenants in England will allow the tenants to challenge the landlords who deny adaptation without fear of retaliation.

The Ealing Council said that “all disabled facilities grant applications are evaluated on qualification and eligibility”.

After recently transferred to a new area, Sam is applying for the third time optimization. The council has been in touch. “I feel silently positive,” she says.