Attachment 7 · MCU21/0083

Gold Standard of Living
LHA Gold Level features twelve core design elements building upon the core livable housing design
elements featured in LHA Silver level plus enhanced requirements.

LHA Gold level provides for more generous dimensions for most of the core livable housing design
elements and introduces additional elements in areas such as the kitchen and bedroom.

The benefit of these additional dimensions and design elements is that manoeuvrability is improved
for persons requiring assistance with mobility.

The twelve core design elements in the LHA Gold Level are:

    1. A safe continuous and step free path of travel from the street entrance and / or parking area
        to a dwelling entrance that is level.
    2. At least one, level (step-free) entrance into the dwelling.
    3. Internal doors and corridors that facilitate comfortable and unimpeded movement between
        spaces.
    4. A toilet on the ground (or entry) level that provides easy access.
    5. A bathroom that contains a hobless shower recess.
    6. Reinforced walls around the toilet, shower and bath to support the safe installation of grab
        rails at a later date.
    7. Stairways are designed to reduce the likelihood of injury and also enable future adaptation.
    8. The kitchen space is designed to support ease of movement between fixed benches and to
        support easy adaptation.
    9. The laundry space is designed to support ease of movement between fixed benches and to
        support easy adaptation.
    10. Ground level or entry level provides a space that can be used as a bedroom.
    11. Switches and powerpoints light switches and powerpoints are located at heights that are
        easy to reach for all home occupants.
    12. Home occupants are able to easily and independently open and close doors and safely use
        tap hardware.



Why are accessible houses so important?
Accessible housing, universal design, adaptable housing, are all terms referring to the same vision
and outcomes desired in dwellings in the name of well-designed and built homes which meet the
changing needs of home occupants throughout their lifetime. It recommends the inclusion of key
easy living features that aim to make homes easier and safer to use for all occupants including:
people with disability, ageing Australians, people with temporary injuries, and families with young
children.


[OCR of page images]
Gold Standard of Living
features twelve core design elements building upon the core livable housing design

elements featured in LHA Silver level plus enhanced requirements.

provides for more generous dimensions for most of the core livable housing design

elements and introduces additional elements in areas such as the kitchen and bedroom.

The benefit of these additional dimensions and design elements is that manoeuvrability is improved

for persons requiring assistance with mobility.
The twelve core design elements in the are:

1. Asafe continuous and step free path of travel from the street entrance and / or parking area
to a dwelling entrance that is level.

2. Atleast one, level (step-free) entrance into the dwelling.

3. Internal doors and corridors that facilitate comfortable and unimpeded movement between
spaces.

4. A toilet on the ground (or entry) level that provides easy access.

5. Abathroom that contains a hobless shower recess.

6. Reinforced walls around the toilet, shower and bath to support the safe installation of grab
rails at a later date.

7. Stairways are designed to reduce the likelihood of injury and also enable future adaptation.

8. The kitchen space is designed to support ease of movement between fixed benches and to
support easy adaptation.

9. The laundry space is designed to support ease of movement between fixed benches and to
support easy adaptation.

10. Ground level or entry level provides a space that can be used as a bedroom.

11. Switches and powerpoints light switches and powerpoints are located at heights that are
easy to reach for all home occupants.

12. Home occupants are able to easily and independently open and close doors and safely use

tap hardware.

Why are accessible houses so important?

Accessible housing, universal design, adaptable housing, are all terms referring to the same vision
and outcomes desired in dwellings in the name of well-designed and built homes which meet the
changing needs of home occupants throughout their lifetime. It recommends the inclusion of key
easy living features that aim to make homes easier and safer to use for all occupants including:
people with disability, ageing Australians, people with temporary injuries, and families with young

children.