The Ultimate Guide to Finding an Accessible Home · bring you the ultimate guide to finding an...
Transcript of The Ultimate Guide to Finding an Accessible Home · bring you the ultimate guide to finding an...
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TheUltimateGuidetoFindinganAccessible
Home
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Thereare13.9milliondisabledpeopleintheUK-oneinfiveofthepopulation.Yetonlyastaggering7%ofhomesinEnglandareaccessible.Thisequatestofourfifthsofdisabledpeoplelivinginunsuitablehomes.
ThatiswhyDisabilityHorizonsandaccessibilityspecialistBranchPropertieshavejoinedtogethertobringyoutheultimateguidetofindinganaccessiblehome.
Thisguidewillgiveyouacomprehensiveoverviewofeverythingyouneedtoknowtohelpyoufindthenewhome–fromstarttofinish.Weaimtohelpyouunderstandtheaccessiblehousingmarketandaccessiblefeatures,aswellasgiveyoupracticalandstraight-forwardadviceonhowtofindapropertythatsuitsyourneeds,whetheryou’rebuyingorrenting.
Italsoincludeshandychecklistsandnotesectionswhereyoucanwritedownthoughtsonexactlywhatyouneed.
1.ThinkaboutwhatyouneedFirstly,narrowdownyouraccessrequirements.Broadlyspeaking,whatlevelofaccessibilitydoyouneed?Designersandarchitectsconsiderarangeoffactorswhendesigninganaccessiblehome,sothinkaboutwhatspecific,practicalfeatureswillmattermosttoyou.
Readthroughthelistbelowand,foreachelementthatappliestoyou,makenotesonwhatyourexactrequirementsaresothatyou’llknowwhatyouneedtoconsider.Wehaveahandynotessectionattheendwhereyoucandothis.
v Movingaroundoutsidev Usingoutdoorspacesv Approachingyourhomev Negotiatingthefrontdoorv Enteringandleavingthehousev Dealingwithcallersv Negotiatinginternaldoorsv Movingaroundinsidev Storingthings,includingequipmentv Movingbetweenlevelswithinthebuildingv Usinglivingspacesv Usingthekitchenv Usingthebathroomv Usingbedroomsv Windowsandheights
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Page3Pinpointspecificfeatures
Nowthatyouhavethoughtaboutwhatyouneed,it’sgoodtopinpointhowthesewilltranslatetotherealworld.Thinkaboutpropertiesyou’velivedinbeforeandwhataccessfeatureshavemadethemostdifferencetoyourdailylife.
Thentakealookatthelistbelowofthemainaccessiblefeaturesandadaptationsavailableandticktheelementsyouknowyouwillneedtolivecomfortably.
Youmayfindthatyoudon’tactuallyrequirethefulllistofadaptations,whichcouldopenupyourhousingoptions.
Forexample,youmayfindthatyoucanlookat‘GeneralNeeds’housing(i.e.onesthatareapplicabletoeveryone)aswellasspecialisthousing–moreonthisbelowinoursectionon‘understandingthehousingcategories’.
Forthethingsyoudoneed,headdowntothenotessectionsothatyoucanexpandontheapplicableareasandhowtheyneedtoworkforyou.
v Accesstoupperfloorviastairliftv Accesstoupperfloorviawheelchairliftv Grabrailsv Walk-inbathv Roll-inshowerv Groundfloorbath,showerorwetroomwithlevelaccessv GroundfloorWCv Low-levelcountertops/sink/appliances/plugpointsetcv Accessiblekitchenstoragev Specialiststorage/cupboardsaroundthehousev Extraspaceforwheelchairmanoeuvrabilityv Smartcontrols,suchasforlightingorheatingv Fixedortrackingceilinghoistv Intercom/entry-phonev Levelaccesstoallmainlivingfloorroomsv Levelaccesstogarden/groundsv Pavedgardenoronewithsmoothpathsv Levelorrampedaccesstothepropertyv Nostepsonapproachtopropertyv Off-streetorunrestrictedon-streetparking3v Supportedliving(wardenorotherassistance
availableonsite)
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Page4Imagineyourdreamhome
Forgetaboutaccessibilityjustforamoment.Itisreallyimportantthatyoutakesometimetothinkaboutwhatyouarelookingforinanewhomewithoutgettingboggeddownintheaccessrequirements.
Whatstyleofpropertydoyouwant?Doyouwantopen-planmodernorsomethingmoretraditional?Howwillyouusethespace?Whataboutthatfireplaceyou’vealwaysdreamedof?Orthesun-soakedpatiothatyoucan’twaittohaveaglassofwineoninthehazysummerevenings?Makesureyouthinkabouttheseimportantfactorstoo.
Location–Wheredoyouwanttolive?Thiscouldrangefromaspecificstreetthatyouhavefalleninlovewith,toanentiretownorcity.Remembertoconsiderlocaltransportlinkstoo,oraccesstoroadsifyoudrive.Also,whatlocalamenitiesdoyouneednearby?
Typeofproperty–Areyoulookingforaflat,bungalow,detachedhouse,terracedhouseetc.?
Bedroomsandbathrooms–Itmayseemobvious,butmakesureyouknowyourminimumnumberofbedroomsandbathrooms.Thinkaboutspaceforpersonalassistants/carerstoo,orvisitingfamily.
Styleofproperty–Period,modernornewbuild?Doyoupreferthecharacter-filledperiodfeaturesofaVictorianterraceorthesleekmodernstyleofanew-buildhome?
Keyfeatures–Whatareyourmust-haves?Fromgardensandgaragestobuilt-inwardrobesandotheressentialstorage,naildownafewofthefeaturesyoudon’twanttolivewithout.
Don’tforgetthebudget
Whatareyourealisticallypreparedtospend?Thinkabouthowmuchyoucanaffordtopayonamortgageorinrent,includingifinterestratesriseorrentpricesincrease.
Don’tforgetadditionalfeestoo,suchassolicitorsorestateagents’feesifyou’rebuying,anddepositsifyou’rerenting,aswellasmovingcosts.
Remembertoadjustyourbudgetfordifferenttypesofproperty.Forexample,youwillprobablybewillingtospendmoreonatwobedhousethanyouwouldonatwobedflat.
Finally,ifyou’rebuying,youwillalsoneedtothinkaboutwhetheryouneedtofactorinanyextracashtomakeadaptations.Thereisnothingworsethanfindingyourdreamhome,justwithinyourbudget,andthenrealisingyouwillhavenothingleftoverforandconstructioncostsforimprovements.
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2.ThinkaboutaccessibilityandadaptationsThe‘accessibility’ofapropertygenerallyrelatestothestructuralfeaturesalreadyinplace.Thiscouldincludelevelaccess,widerhallwaysandatoiletand/orshowerroomonthegroundfloor.
Adaptations,ontheotherhand,aremodificationstoaproperty,suchasaddinggrabrails,adoor-entrysystemorroll-inshower.
Ifyouthinkyou’llneedadaptationstobemade,we’drecommendfocusingonlookingatnew-buildhousesastheyareallbuilttowithaccessibilityinmindorareeasilyadaptable–seemoreonthisinoursectionon‘understandingthehousingcategories’.
Defineimmediatemust-havesvsfutureadaptations
Whateveryourneeds,bepreparedtocompromise!Unfortunately,itisunrealistictoassumethatyouwillbeabletofindapropertythatmeetsallyourneedsandisreadytomoveintostraightaway.Butthatdoesn’tmeanyouwon’tbeabletofindyourdreamhome.
ThinkaboutwhatfeaturesyouNEEDtobebuilt-inwhenyoupurchaseahouseoragreetorentit,andwhatcouldbeadaptedorimprovedafteryou’veboughtitorbeforeyoumovein.
Theoverallstructureandlayoutofthepropertyshouldbeyourfundamentalpriority.Youcanaddadaptations,dependingonwhattheyare,relativelyeasily.However,whenitcomestomajorinternalrearrangementsthatinvolvealotofwork,youmayfindthatthecostanddisruptionsimplyaren’tworthit,orthelandlordorcouncilisn’twillingtomakethem.
MinorvsmajoradaptationsThenatureofadaptationscanusuallybeclassifiedaseitherminorormajor.Thismainlyrelatestotheamountofworkandrelevantcostattachedtotheadaptionbeingmade.
Thetablebelowprovidesabriefsnapshotofwhatcanbeconsideredaminorormajoradaptation,butthisisnotanexhaustivelist.
Minoradaptations MajoradaptationsGrabrailsandstairrails(outsideandinside) Levelaccessshowersandwetrooms
Levertaps Stairlifts(straightorcurved)
Lightingimprovements Ramps
Doorentrysystem/intercom Kitchenalterations
Doorwidening Automaticdooropeners/closers
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ConsiderthecostofadjustmentsBelowisatablewithsomeexamplesoftypicaladaptationsandestimatesofhowmucheachwouldcosttocomplete.PleaserememberthattheseareonlymeanttogivearoughideaofcostsandmayvarysignificantlydependingonthepropertyandwhereintheUKyoulive.
Adaptation Cost
Installingaramp £450
Wideninganentrancedoor £2,500
Wideninginternaldoors(4doors) £2,000
Installingastairlift £9,600
Installing10grabrails £2,500
Awetroomconversionfromexistingbathroom
£3,500
Addingaceilinghoist £1,750-£3,000
Ifyouarebuyingfromavendor,itwillbeyourresponsibilitytoorganiseandpayfortheadaptations.Ifyou’rebuyinganewly-builthomefromadeveloper,itisworthdiscussingadaptationsattheplanstageasyourspecificrequirementsmightbeabletobebuiltintothehome.
However,asdevelopershavetocomplywithNHBCNewBuildguidelines,whichmeanstheyhavetobebuiltaspertheregulationsandplansalreadysubmitted,theymaynotbeabletomakeanychanges.
Ifyou’rerentingandrequireadaptations,aDisabledFacilitiesGrant(DFG)canhelppayforthem.Itismeans-testedandgoesuptoamaximumof£30,000inEngland,or£36,000inWales.Theaveragegrantisactuallylessthan£10,000.
InorderforyoutoaccessaDFG,youwillneedtoplantoliveinthepropertyforuptofiveyearsafterworkiscompleted,andyourlandlordwillneedtoagreetotheadaptationsandhelpingtosecurethegrant.
They’llneedtowriteastatementofintentconfirmingthatthatthepropertywillcontinuetobeoccupiedbyyouasadisabledtenantforthattimeperiod.
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3.StartlookingforpropertiesLookingforaccessibleandwheelchair-friendlypropertiesishard.Well-knownpropertyportals,suchasRightmoveandZoopla,aren’tparticularlyhelpful.Thereareveryfewaccessiblepropertieslisted,butusingthekeywordswheelchair,accessible,disabledanddisabilityshouldhelpyoutofindthem.
Whenyoudolocateone,mostlistingsdon’treallytakeaccessibilityintoaccount.However,somewillincludefloorplansandpictures.Theseareextremelyhelpfulinshowingbeneficialfeatures,suchaswhatroomsareonthegroundfloor,whatlevelaccessislikeandwhethertheflooringinsideandoutwillsuityourneeds.Ifapropertyyou’relookingforonlinedoesn’thaveafloorplan,getintouchwiththeestateagentorlandlordandaskforthem.
Ifyouneedhelpfindinganaccessiblehometorent,belowaresomeorganisationsthatmaybeabletohelpyouandalsocompaniesspecialisinginaccessiblehousing:
BranchPropertieswww.branchproperties.co.uk
BranchPropertiesspecialisesinfindingandprovidingwheelchair-accessibleandadaptedhomes.Itistheonlyfamily-runaccessiblespecialistagencyintheUKdedicatedtofindingpeoplewithdisabilitieswhattheyneedandwant.Byworkingwithyou,BranchPropertiestakesthestressandstrainoffindingyourhome,soyoucanenjoylivinginit.
Habintegwww.habinteg.org.uk
Habinteg’smissionistochampioninclusivecommunitiesbyprovidingandpromotingaccessiblehomessothatpeoplewithdisabilitieshavethehighestlevelsofindependence,choiceandcontrolovertheirlives.
AccessiblePropertyRegisterwww.accessible-property.org.uk
Thiswebsitewassetupbypeoplewithdisabilitiestoaddresstheissuestheyexperienced.Thesitelistssecond-handpropertiesfromsellerswhohadadaptedtheirhomeand,understandingtheissuesthey’dexperienced,wereenthusiastictofindabuyeralsowithdisabilitieswhocouldbenefitfromtheseadjustments.
Aspirewww.aspire.org.uk
Aspireisaspinalinjurycharitythathelpswithshort-termhousingneeds-e.g.ifyouwantsomewheretolivewhileyou’rehavingadaptationworksdoneonyourownplace.It’sworthcheckingtheAspirevacanciespageasithaswaitinglists.
Alzheimer’sSocietywww.alzheimers.org.uk
TheorganisationhasproducedaDementia-FriendlyHousingGuidewithdetailedadviceforthoselivingwithdementia.
GoldenLaneHousingwww.glh.org.uk
GoldenLaneHousingisfocusedoncreatinggreateraccesstohousingforpeoplewithlearningdisabilities.Itlistsaccessiblehomesforrentorthoseunderlocalhousingassociations.
HomeImprovementAgencieswww.findmyhia.org.uk
TheHomeImprovementAgencieswebsiteenablesyoutosearchforlocalorganisationsthatmakeadaptationstohomes.
ThePapworthTrustwww.papworthtrust.org.uk
ThePapworthTrustexists,“tomakeapositivedifferencetothelivesofdisabledpeople,”partofwhichincludeshousing.Itisclassedasasocialhousingprovider,rentinghomesateithersocialoraffordablerates.Many,butnotall,ofitspropertiesarewheelchairaccessible.
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AbodeImpactwww.abodeimpact.co.uk
AbodeImpactislookingtocreatechangewithintheprivaterentedsectorinLondon.Itwillbuynew-build,wheelchair-accessibleflats,andrentaproportionofthemoutatasomewhatsubsidisedrentandislookingtoselltheothers.However,thefundisonholdcurrently.
AccessiblePRSwww.accessibleprs.co.uk
AccessiblePRSisapropertyconsultancyagency,specialisinginaccessibledesignandstrategy.Ithelpspropertyinvestorsandprivatelandlordsunderstandtherelevanceofaccessibilitytocreatemorehousingstock.
Uselocalauthorities
Yourlocalauthorityisalsoagreatplacetostartwhenlookingforanaccessiblehome.Youshouldreachouttoyourlocaloneandaskwhetheritoperatesanyspecialistaccessible-housingschemesandcurrentlyhasanyaccessiblehomesonitsbooks.
Itshouldbeabletogiveyousomeusefuladvice,ifnothingmoreconcrete,anditwillalsoworkwithoccupationaltherapistswhomaybeabletogiveyoumorepersonalandspecificguidanceandhelp.
SearchforyourlocalauthoritywebsiteonGoogletofindcontactinformation.
Topsearchingandviewingtips
We’veputtogethersomeadditionaltipstohelpyouwhensearchingfortherightpropertyandoutviewinghouses.
Speaktoyourlocalestateagents.Registeringontheirbookswillensureyouareintheirmindswhenanyrelevanthousescomeup.
Beclearonwhatyouneed.Giveyourtoprequirementsandprioritiesandbeclearwhereyoucanandcan’tcompromise.Althoughwithpropertysearchingyouoftenhavetocompromisesomewherealongtheline,it’sworthstatingwhatyouNEEDandwantupfront.
Bespecificandaskoverandoveragain.Don’tjustaskwhetherapropertyis‘accessible’-bespecific.Forexample,askwhetherthereareanystairsleadingtothepropertyorwithinit,orifthereisabathroomonthegroundfloor?
Someagentsdon’treallyunderstandwhataccessibilityis,oryourindividualrequirements,soyouneedtobreakitdown.Ifwehadapoundforeachtimeweheard,“Well,there’sjustonestep”wewouldbeveryrich!
Takearamptoviewingsifyoucan.Thiswillmakegettinginandoutofpropertieseasierifit’snotyetfullyaccessible.
Haveatapemeasuretohand.Knowinghowmuchroomthereisforyoutomovearoundthespaceisvital.Ifyoucan’tgetintothehouseinitially,youcanaskanagenttomeasurecriticalspacesandinternaldoorwidthssothatyouknowwhatyou’regettingandcanlookintowhethertheycanbeadapted.
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Ifyouhaven’tyetfoundyourhome,BranchPropertiescanfinditforyou.
AtBranchProperties,westartwiththeassumptionthatfullaccessibilityinthehousingmarketisanessentialandbasicright.Weaimtocreatesystemicchangewithintheindustry.
Wearededicatedtoprovidingaservicefordisabledbuyersandrenterssearchingforahomeinwhichtheycanliveincomfortandindependence.
Ourresidentialpropertyhubmatchesyourneedstopropertiesandlandlordsandvendors.Wedothework,soyoudon’thaveto.
Wewillcreateatailor-madeportfolioofsuitablepropertiesforletorsalefromwhichyoucanidentifyyouraccessibleoradaptablehome.
Weundertakeinitialviewingstomakesurethepropertiesliveuptotheirdescription,andtakeavideoforyoutoseeforyourself.Wealsogiveyouacomprehensivereportonthesearchandallpropertiesthatcouldwork,withprosandcons.
Whereadaptationsarenecessary,wecanprojectmanageandbringtogetherserviceprovidersthatcanmakethechangestoensurethataccessiblehousinghappens.
VisittheBranchPropertieswebsitenowforourhelp.
4.UnderstandingthehousingcategoriesFinally,therearelotsofinterpretationsofwhataccessiblepropertiesareanddifferentdevelopers,agentsandothersusedifferentterminology.Ourhelpfuljargonbusterwilldemystifyanytermsyoucomeacross.
Category2‘AccessibleandAdaptableDwellings’
Thesepropertiescomplywiththisrequirementwhenanewpropertymakesreasonableprovisionformostpeople,whichincludeswheelchairuserstoaccessandenterthedwelling,andaccesshabitableroomsandsanitaryfacilitiesontheentrancelevel.
WheelchairAccessibleThroughout
Meetthedesignstandardsfromthe‘WheelchairHousingDesignGuide’
Thesepropertieshavebeendesignedtomeetthelatestwheelchairaccessiblehousingdesignstandards,offeringextraspaceandfullaccesstoallroomsandfacilitiesforwheelchairusers.
WheelchairAccessibleEssentialRooms
Complywiththe‘WheelchairHousingDesignGuide’withinthe‘HousingCorporationSchemeDevelopment’standards
Thesepropertiesaredesignedoradaptedtoprovideaccessforwheelchairuserstoessentialfacilitiesoftheproperty(thatis,abedroom,bathroom,toilet,livingroomandkitchen).Otherroomsinthehouse,suchasadditionalbedroomsorbathrooms,maynotbewheelchairaccessible.
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Page10LifetimeHomes
Thesemeetthespacestandardsof‘LifetimeHomes’developedbytheJosephRowntreeFoundation,butnotallcriteria
‘LifetimeHomes’aredeliberatelydesignedtobeeasilyadaptedforwheelchairusersorpeoplewithdisabilities,andmostaccessibleimprovementsarebothcosteffectiveandquicktocompleteinthistypeofproperty.
Mainfeaturesincludealevelapproach/entranceandwiderdoorways.Propertiesmayalsohaveaninternalflightofstairs,butthesewillbewideenoughtoaccommodateastairlift.Thiscategorywillcoverthemajorityofnew-buildhousing.EasyAccess
Compatiblewiththedesignstandardsin‘MobilityStandardHousing(1974)’andPartMofBuildingRegulations(2000)
Themainfeaturesofthesepropertiesincludealevelapproach,widerdoorwaysandmorespacethanin‘GeneralNeeds’houses(seebelowformoredetails).Thesepropertiesmaycontainaninternalflightofstairs,buttherewillbeenoughspacetoaccommodateastairlift.
Thiscategoryisbroadlythesameas‘LifetimeHomes’above,butfollowsslightlymoreofthespecificdesignguidanceinPartMofBuildingRegulations.
Step-Free
Nopublishedaccessdesignguidance
Thesepropertiesareconsidered‘GeneralNeeds’housesbuthavealevelapproachorentranceintotheproperty.Manyofthesepropertieswillbestep-freethroughout,andwherethereisaninternalstaircase,therewillbeenoughspaceforastairlift.
MinimalSteps
Nopublishedaccessdesignguidance
Propertiesthatdonotmeetanyaccessiblehousingdesignguidanceandhavealimitednumberofstepstoentertheproperty.Thesepropertieswillhavenomorethanfourstepstoaccessthefrontdoorandarelikelytobegroundfloorproperties.
GeneralNeeds
‘GeneralNeeds’housesdonotmeetanyoftheabovecriteria
Propertiesinthiscategorywillhavemorethanfourstepsorarampaccesssteeperthan1:10toaccessthefrontdoor.Thesepropertiesaregenerallyunsuitablefordisabledpeopleorthosewithlimitedmobilitywithoutadaptationsoraccessimprovements.
WehopeyouhavefoundourUltimateGuidetoFindinganAccessibleHomeUseful.PleaseleteitherDisabilityHorizonsorBranchPropertiesknowifyouhaveanyquestionsorqueriesatall.Simplyemaileditor@[email protected].
Here’slookingforwardtoyournew,independentandaccessiblehome!
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AccessRequirementsChecklist:page1Usethechecklisttonarrowdownyourexactrequirements,andtakeittoviewingstohelpyouassess
howaccessiblethepropertyisforyourneeds.
Movingaroundoutside(e.g.step-freeaccessfromthehousetothegarden,flat/pavedsurfaces)
Usingoutdoorspaces(e.g.easyaccesstosheds/garages,largedriveway)
Approachingyourhome(e.g.pathfromstreettofrontdoor,pathfromparkingtofrontdoor)
Negotiatingthefrontdoor(e.g.dooropeninginratherthanoutorviceversa,widedooropening)
Enteringandleavingthehouse(e.g.storageintheentrancehall,easylockingdoors)
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AccessRequirementsChecklist:page2
Dealingwithcallers(e.g.entryphones,videodisplay)
Negotiatinginternaldoors(e.g.nointernaldoors,easy-to-griphandlessufficientspacebetweendoors)
Movingaroundinside(e.g.spaceforturningcircle,accesstoessentialfacilities)
Storingthings,includingequipment(e.g.spaceforwheelchairstorageandequipment,easyaccesstostorage)
Movingbetweenlevelswithinthebuilding(e.g.handrails,stairlift)
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AccessRequirementsChecklist:page3
Usinglivingspaces(e.g.roomforseatingarrangements,electroniccontrolsandswitchesattherightheight)
Usingthekitchen(e.g.lowcountertop,easyaccesstooven,hob,fridge-freezeretc)
Usingthebathroom(e.g.handrails,accessiblebath,hoist)
Usingbedrooms(e.g.spacefordressing/undressing,easy-accessstorageforessentialequipment)
Windowsandheights(e.g.easyopeningmechanism,windowlocks,abletoviewfrom)
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SpecificFeaturesandAdaptations:page1Usethischecklisttopinpointwhataccessfeaturesandadaptationsyouneed.
Accesstoupperfloorviastairlift
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Grabrails
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Walk-inbath
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Roll-inshower
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Groundfloorbath,showerorwetroomwithlevelaccess
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
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SpecificFeaturesandAdaptations:page2
GroundFloorWC
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Low-levelcountertops,sink,appliances,plugpointsetc
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Accessiblekitchenstorage
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Specialiststorage/cupboardsaroundthehouse
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Extraspaceforwheelchairmanoeuvrability
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
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SpecificFeaturesandAdaptations:page3
Smartcontrols,suchasforlightingorheating
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Fixedortrackingceilinghoist
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Intercom/entry-phone
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Levelaccesstoallmainlivingfloorrooms
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Levelaccesstogarden/grounds
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
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SpecificFeaturesandAdaptations:page4
Pavedgardenoronewithsmoothpaths
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Levelorrampedaccesstotheproperty
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Nostepsonapproachtoproperty
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Off-streetorunrestrictedon-streetparking
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
Supportedliving(wardenorotherassistanceavailableonsite)
Musthave
Preferred
Non-essential
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GeneralNotesPage