AQW 41084/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 20/02/2026
Answered On Date: 16/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any guidance his Department provides to housing bodies regarding changes in housing suitability as tenants age.

Answer:

The Department’s Housing Association Guide contains various guidance applicable to the design of housing for older people. The basis of any design of housing for older people should normally be a universal solution that can be easily adapted to suit a wide range of users now and over the life of the property.

All new build social homes are currently built to ‘Lifetime Homes Standards’, ensuring that homes can be easily adapted to meet the changing needs of tenants. Guidance is also available for specific wheelchair housing design standards to improve the range, quality and flexibility of accommodation for wheelchair users, many of whom are older; and on CAT 1/CAT 2 design. Housing Associations are also delivering schemes to enhance older peoples living under ‘Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation’ (HAPPI) pilot schemes.