Introduce The Silver Livable Housing Design

Reported by: Anna Attia

Publish date: 9th Sep 2024 

Problem Identification: 

In NSW, new housing developments do not have to offer basic accessibility for all people.  

NSW is one of two states in Australia that has not implemented the Silver Livable Housing Design Standards model into State legislation or building codes.

This means that thousands of people in NSW who live with a disability may find it challenging to find appropriate housing.

Context: 

Solution Identification: 

Advice: 

Download the 1-page policy brief PDF here:

Introduce The Silver Livable Housing Design Standards Into NSW

.pdf

Download PDF • 86KB

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Public Support: 

1. Summer Foundation 

2. Building Better Homes

3. National Disability Services (NDS) 

Where to go to learn more: 

1. Summer Foundation - Find out more about the campaign here 

2. Livable Housing Australia - Find the Silver Livable Housing Design Standards here 

3. housing design standard - Read about the standards implemented in Queenslandhere

4. Building Better Homes - Read about the campaign here 

Heart String Story : 

Ruby was born with spina bifida and is a wheelchair user. She says that finding a house that ensures her independence has been difficult. It wasn’t until the age of 12 that Ruby’s family found a house with a ramp in the front. Her parents spent thousands of dollars in order to renovate the bathrooms in the house to make them accessible for Ruby, which was financially difficult for her family at the time. The 26-year-old recently moved with a friend into a newly-built house that was not wheelchair-friendly. There was a step in front of the house and no ramp at the front. Ruby found this dehumanising and undignified. She hopes that NSW will implement the Silver Livable Housing Design Standards so that all new properties can be more accessible. 

Reference list:

1. Australian Building Codes Board. (2019). Australian Building Codes Board. https://www.abcb.gov.au/

2. Australian Building Codes Board.(2022). Livable housing design standards. standard.https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/sites/default/files/resources/2023/Livable-Housing-Design-Standard-2022-1.3.pdf

3. Brisbane City Council. (2023). Building and development compliance. https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-and-building/do-i-need-approval/types-of-approval/building-and-development-compliance

4. Building Better Homes. New South Wales. (2024). https://buildingbetterhomes.org.au/new-south-wales/

5. Summer Foundation. (2024, July 22). Stop housing discrimination in NSW. https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/stop-housing-discrimination-in-nsw/

6. Convery, S. (2022, August 29). NSW’s rejection of basic accessible home standards ‘salt in the wound’ for disabled people. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/29/nsws-rejection-of-basic-accessible-home-standards-salt-in-the-wound-for-disabled-people

7. Nichols, S. (2024, August 6). Disability and older Australian advocates demand NSW government make residential accessibility standards mandatory. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-06/advocates-nsw-standards-residential-building-disabilities/104179526

8. Housing Act 2001 (NSW). https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2001-052

9. Livable Housing Australia (n.d.). LHA Silver. https://livablehousingaustralia.org.au/lha-silver/

10. State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (NSW).https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2021-0714

11. 
    

    1. Xioa, A. Push for NSW and WA to join national accessible building code to future-proof housing for ageing population. (2024, April 27). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-27/are-new-houses-suitable-for-disabled-ageing-population/103772542

    
    

Conflict of interest / Acknowledgment statement: 

N/a