ᐅ Building Accessible Homes – What Are the Key Considerations?

We are considering converting an old industrial building into small apartments, preferably including some for seniors. The floor needs to be completely renewed anyway. Walls, ceilings – everything will be new. This means it would be possible from the start to design some apartments as barrier-free or even fully accessible for people with disabilities.

Does anyone have practical experience with what tenants with disabilities really want and need? What are the key considerations for senior apartments? I look forward to ideas and useful tips.

You could start by taking a look at the relevant KfW program, specifically the technical datasheet. There you will find a lot of requirements.

However, I’m wondering why you want to do this in the first place. Honestly, I can’t imagine that it will pay off in the end. The clientele you are targeting with "small" apartments probably won’t have the financial means to cover the extra construction costs through the net rent.

Dr Hix schrieb:

I wonder spontaneously why you want that?

Thanks for the tip.
Wanting is an exaggeration. First of all, we want to inquire.

I always only find general information about what is subsidized. But how it actually works in detail is unfortunately not clearly explained by KfW, as far as I can tell.

I was hoping for more concrete advice, such as door widths, pathways, or additional technical features, etc.

Where exactly did you look? I was referring to program 159. There, under "Downloads," "Information Sheets," and then "Annex to the Information Sheet on Age-Appropriate Renovations, Technical Minimum Requirements and Eligible Measures."

I think it already contains a lot of information.

kaho674 schrieb:
I only ever find general vague statements about what is funded.

However, you need to read that very carefully, because the supposed vague statements also indicate what is not funded.

There are actually "advisory and coordination centers" everywhere to support family caregivers, as well as organizations like Aktion Mensch and others, and in every federal state there are specialists in the ministries handling all that "bureaucracy."

Apart from that: as newcomers, you really don’t want to step on the toes of the welfare organizations’ territory.

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