Liveable Housing Design Standards - What does this mean for me?
I know this isn’t a very exciting subject, but it’s a very important one, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. After doing a short stint with an aged care provider, working with the design of their new facilities, I have become aware of just how important these home design standards are for ours and our families futures.
There has been a change to minimum accessibility standards for housing in the National Construction Code 2022. This has a positive impact on the way we design and build houses going forward into the future, but what does it mean now?
What Is Accessible Housing?
Accessible housing is housing that is designed to provide access to people with a disability.
What does this mean for my home?
The minimum accessibility standards for new houses and certain renovations will include these simple accessibility features:
at least 1 step-free entrance door
wider internal doors and corridors
toilet on ground level (or entry level).
This change will make homes more accessible and our society more inclusive for people of all abilities.
Sensible exemptions for step-free entry requirements have been adopted for small and steep lots, and for the protection of the iconic ‘Queenslander’.
Why do these changes matter?
A lack of accessible housing comes at a significant cost in the form of:
unnecessarily expensive home modifications to make homes more accessible
longer stays in hospital and transition care (if applicable) if discharge is delayed due to inadequate accessibility features in the home
the need for relocation to find more suitable accommodation
an inability for friends and family to visit each other due to inadequate accessibility features in the home.
The accessibility design standards will meet the changing needs of all of us as we age, without the need for costly adaptations. The basic accessibility features will allow us to remain in our homes through all stages of our lives.
These standards commenced on 1 May 2023, with a grace period to 1 October 2023.
https://www.epw.qld.gov.au/about/initiatives/modern-homes/livable-housing-design-standard