A recent survey performed by Habinteg Housing Association has highlighted the alarming fact that a majority of UK homes are not accessible for wheelchair users, with seven out of 10 wheelchair users stating that it isn’t possible to access all areas of their home.
These statistics call for the design of new builds to be re-evaluated, as only one per cent of all planned works outside of London have been designed with accessibility in mind.
How can we ensure future builds encompass mobility needs?
Bathrooms
Having a wet room/walk in shower within property will not only increase accessibility, but as this design has started to become more popular within the buyer’s market – it can also increase the value of the property
Hallways
When designing the layout of a new build, consider increasing the width of hallways and entry ways to account of a standard wheelchair. This will increase sales opportunities within the disability market without impacting the aesthetic of the home.
Kitchens
As the kitchen installation is normally decided during the purchasing process as an added cost – offering the buyer choices that include lowered units will give those with mobility concerns an option that caters to their requirements.
Stairs
As creating multi-storey homes is a more profitable use of land, having to build both single story and multi-storey homes to achieve different buyer’s needs isn’t cost effective. By giving the option of a home lift installation as an extra during the renovations, you can ensure that multi-storey new builds can be made accessible without investing in an expensive and time-consuming solution.
An added benefit of offering this option during the development stage is the avoidance of further building work expenses and disruption. Should they decide to have a similar solution installed at a later date, they would have to go through the cost and mess of having building work done all over again.
Taking mobility into consideration with future property developments is essential for those with disability, as well as ensuring that these homes are suitable for the aging community. Combating these challenges at the development stage will ensure the future-proofing of UK housing market.
Interested in finding out more about our home lifts?
Request a free brochure.