Lifetime Homes

2.17  Lifetime Homes consists of standards that have been developed to ensure that any home is flexible, adaptable and accessible - and that there is added comfort, convenience and safety for tenants and visitors. A review of the Lifetime Homes (LTH) standards has been carried out by a technical forum led by Habinteg.  The revised document was published and has been available from 5 July 2010.  The revised document can be viewed/downloaded from www.lifetimehomes.org.uk . Lifetime Homes Criteria can be applied to most General Needs and Supported Housing dwelling situations with relative ease. Lifetime homes do not necessarily require higher space standards, but are designed to easily accommodate people with moderate mobility problems and to be adaptable to accommodate the majority of conditions with maximum ease and at minimum cost.  To qualify for the LTH supplementary multiplier, additional standards are also required by DSD and these are noted in Table 5.

For more information - Table 5: LTH Additional DSD Requirements (PDF 55KB)

2.18  The Department for Social Development (DSD) – requires all new build (A&W and Works only) self-contained bungalows, ground floor flats, flats served with a lift and 2 & 3-storey houses to be designed to lifetime homes criteria.  Flats without a lift should also be designed to lifetime homes criteria as far as practicable.  In exceptional circumstances Associations may submit reasons for non-compliance with lifetime homes criteria to NIHE (DPG) for consideration.  

2.19  Lifetime Homes and The Code for Sustainable Homes - The Lifetime Homes standards in the H.A Guide are now based on the revised criteria with additional DSD accessibility requirements ,introduced mainly to reduce the cost of adaptations. From 2 June 2008, all new ‘new build’ self-contained schemes must meet the Code for Sustainable Homes rating level ‘3 stars’ or better. Credits are awarded in the Code for complying with Lifetime Homes based on the revised criteria. The HA Guide clearly differentiates between the revised criteria and additional DSD accessibility and design requirements.

2.20  Lifetime Homes and Claiming Supplementary Multiplier - The Lifetime Homes supplementary multiplier will apply when a dwelling meets the revised criteria and the additional DSD accessibility requirements.

For further information see Explanatory Notes for use with Supplementary Multipliers Table.

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