Housing for Life

The Housing for Life guide contains building information to help families to continue living in their homes as they grow older, as well as to help with future personal needs that may arise in the future due to age, disability or changing circumstances - such as a temporary period of recovery from an accident or illness. This guide which was published in 2001 will help you modify, or build new homes where accessible features can be incorporated.

 The Master Builders Association of the Australian Capital Territory developed this guide with funding provided under the Commonwealth Government’s Veteran & Community Grants scheme operated by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. This guide was developed with the input of about 700 veterans, war widows/widowers and carers in a survey of needs of the veteran community.

 This guide will assist you specifically in the following areas:

 • thinking about alterations or modifications to your home;

• deciding if you should stay in your current home or move to a more suitable home; or

• looking to build a new home.

 This is Housing for Life, a home that is just good design and common sense for everybody, a concept that should become standard design/construction practice. When the ideas outlined are thoughtfully incorporated into a house, while still maintaining its homely feel, its capital value can increase. Good design and construction eliminate the need to change homes and the personal and economic costs associated with social dislocation.

Click here to view the guide

Click here to download a copy of the guide (PDF)