There’s Help Available to Modify Your Home

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Are you worried about your housing options because you're reluctant to move out of your home? Or perhaps a disability is making daily life more difficult than it need be. Decisions may have to be made, but they needn't mean as big a change as moving house.

Housing New Zealand may be able to help through the Suitable Homes Service – an advisory service that it provides to help people with physical disabilities continue to live independently in a home modified to suit their needs.

Who is eligible?

If you live in New Zealand, have a long-term physical disability, and require structural modifications to your home, you may be eligible for the Suitable Homes service. You don't have to be a Housing New Zealand tenant – the house can be your own home or a private rental.

How does it work?

Housing New Zealand provides advice to:

  • Help people with physical disabilities to find homes that suit their needs or that can be modified to meet their essential needs; and
  • Support people with disabilities who wish to modify their existing home whether it's their own or a rental.

While advice can be provided over the phone, a meeting will be suggested to new customers. Discussion will include your current situation, the difficulties you are having, the kind of home you need to live in independently, and how much rent you can afford.

What if your home needs modifying?

Housing New Zealand can arrange for an occupational therapist to assess the changes needed. An occupational therapist can also help to prepare the modification plans and to approach your landlord for approval, if your home is rented privately.

If you get approval and you're eligible for government assistance, the occupational therapist will apply to the Ministry of Health or ACC for funding. As soon as funding is approved and available, work can start. The funder will oversee the work.

Typical modifications include a level access shower; an accessible toilet; a ramped entrance; widened doors/hallways and lowered kitchen benches.

What if you need a new home?

Housing New Zealand can help you to find the right home. If it's a private rental property, before a tenancy agreement is signed, an occupational therapist will assess its suitability and advise on modifications needed. If it's a Housing New Zealand home, it will be held for you while it's being assessed. If it's private or council-owned, Housing New Zealand may help with rent payments during this time.

What does the Suitable Homes service cost?

The advice service is free of charge but does not provide funding for modifications. If you need modifications that you can't afford, you will have to get funding from other agencies. Housing New Zealand can help with making funding applications.

Find out more

Call anytime on 0800 801 601 or visit your nearest Housing New Zealand office (details in the Government Blue Pages of the White Pages phonebook or at www.hnzc.co.nz).

Get more help from:

Lifemark
Residential Design Standards for building homes that are accessible for everyone, no matter what age stage or ability
Freephone: 0800 Lifemark
Website: www.lifemark.co.nz

Homes Without Barriers
A guide to accessible houses, published by BRANZ 2001, BRANZ Bookshop
Freephone: 0800 808 085 (press 2)
Website: www.branz.co.nz

Barrier Free New Zealand Trust
Aims 'to encourage, promote and facilitate universal access'
Phone: 04 915 5848
Website: www.barrierfreenz.org.nz

New Zealand Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Foundation
Email

Disability Resource Centres.
Freephone: 0800 347 2424