Minister announces more Lifetime Homes

Good news for older and disabled people - Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, has announced that every new home built from 2013 must comply with 16 'lifetime homes standards', designed to allow older people to stay in their homes for life by adapting them to their changing needs. All new public housing must comply by 2010. Government statistics show that by 2026, older people will account for 48 per cent of the increase in the number of households. There will be 2.4 million more of these households than there are today.

The lifetime homes standards include wider doors for wheelchairs, higher wall sockets, space for a stairlift and hoist from bedroom to bathroom and an accessible downstairs lavatory/shower room.

Photo:† Lifetime Homes standard, Bradford