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TheUltimateGuidetoFindinganAccessible

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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


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)


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.


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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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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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

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