Disabled man handed £20k payout from London council after being forced to crawl to the toilet

A disabled man who was forced to drag himself across the floor just to use the toilet in council-provided accommodation has received a £20,000 payout.The man, identified only as CPH, is paralysed from the waist down and has the use of just one arm.CPH, who had previously been homeless and also has other serious physical and mental health problems, had been housed by the council since at least 2020.But lawyers at Bindmans said he could not access the bathroom from his wheelchair — leaving him having to drag himself across the floor to reach the toilet and shower.He also struggled to use the shared kitchen and was unable to do his own laundry.The situation continued despite the council’s adult social care team recording in August 2023 that CPH had eligible care and support needs.His partner eventually began providing him with essential care, but she was initially barred from staying overnight because visiting hours were restricted to between 10am and 8pm.Faced with being left without overnight support, CPH began sleeping rough with his partner instead of remaining in the accommodation.The case has now ended with Redbridge Council agreeing to pay CPH £20,000 in settlement.CPH launched judicial review proceedings against Redbridge Council in November 2024 over his living conditions.The London council agreed to arrange an occupational therapy assessment and carry out the recommended works. But rather than recommending that CPH be moved to accommodation suitable for his disabilities, the assessment proposed that he use a “wheeled shower commode” to defecate and wash in his bedroom or kitchen area, with assistance from his partner.The recommendation effectively meant CPH, who is paralysed from the waist down and has the use of only one arm, would no longer use the bathroom in his accommodation at all.Read MoreBindmans instructed an independent occupational therapist who subsequently concluded that CPH needed to move to accessible accommodation.After suitable accommodation was still not offered, CPH brought a second urgent judicial review in July 2025, alleging breaches of the Care Act 2014, Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the public sector equality duty and disability discrimination.That case was settled after Redbridge agreed to offer alternative accommodation and accepted that only fully adapted, wheelchair-accessible accommodation was suitable for CPH. He finally moved into alternative accommodation with an adapted wet room on July 31, 2025.His remaining claim for damages under the Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010 was transferred to the County Court and has now ended in a £20,000 settlement.His lawyers and Bindmands said: “The case highlights the potentially serious consequences when local authorities fail to provide suitable accommodation and support to disabled people and the importance of considering claims for damages under human rights and equality legislation where those failures are sufficiently serious.”Redbridge Council has been contacted by The Standard for comment.