Hello,
we are still at the very beginning of the planning phase. Nothing is decided 100% yet.
My question concerns the significant detail of accessibility. Due to a chronic leg injury, I will need to live in a more or less barrier-free home sooner rather than later. (Life happens while you’re busy making other plans, as they say.) We currently live on the 5th floor without an elevator. Stairs are and will be the biggest problem for me. Hopefully, I will be able to walk on level ground for a long time to come, even if later with an artificial joint and then with a prosthesis – if all goes well!
Are there any funding opportunities for an accessible new build? If so, what documents need to be submitted? Is it just the construction/planning itself or also a disability ID card with a severe disability mark?
What are the additional costs or considerations?
At first, it’s mainly about having no or as few stairs as possible. But since we’re at it, we want to build in a way that allows us to live there comfortably into old age – wheelchair accessible. Is that possible with a KfW-70 house? Would two full stories with the option to install an elevator later be more sensible, or go straight for a bungalow? I don’t want to use the basement for laundry at all, because that means stairs, which will be the first thing I won’t be able to manage anymore. I’ve already had a phase where stairs caused me problems here. At the moment, I have no problems, but that won’t last forever.
If I hardly want to use the basement, it would only be for the building services. Is it worth having a basement for that, or is it necessary? Ultimately, not building a basement would probably save a considerable amount of money.
we are still at the very beginning of the planning phase. Nothing is decided 100% yet.
My question concerns the significant detail of accessibility. Due to a chronic leg injury, I will need to live in a more or less barrier-free home sooner rather than later. (Life happens while you’re busy making other plans, as they say.) We currently live on the 5th floor without an elevator. Stairs are and will be the biggest problem for me. Hopefully, I will be able to walk on level ground for a long time to come, even if later with an artificial joint and then with a prosthesis – if all goes well!
Are there any funding opportunities for an accessible new build? If so, what documents need to be submitted? Is it just the construction/planning itself or also a disability ID card with a severe disability mark?
What are the additional costs or considerations?
At first, it’s mainly about having no or as few stairs as possible. But since we’re at it, we want to build in a way that allows us to live there comfortably into old age – wheelchair accessible. Is that possible with a KfW-70 house? Would two full stories with the option to install an elevator later be more sensible, or go straight for a bungalow? I don’t want to use the basement for laundry at all, because that means stairs, which will be the first thing I won’t be able to manage anymore. I’ve already had a phase where stairs caused me problems here. At the moment, I have no problems, but that won’t last forever.
If I hardly want to use the basement, it would only be for the building services. Is it worth having a basement for that, or is it necessary? Ultimately, not building a basement would probably save a considerable amount of money.
If someone is already living with a disability that is expected to worsen significantly in the coming years, having an upper floor is more than inappropriate. Moreover, placing the laundry area upstairs, when anyone familiar with household routines knows that laundry involves: loading, unloading, drying, and ironing/putting away – means making that trip upstairs at least three times.
A bungalow offers (not only for those with disabilities) a higher quality of life. We do not know the age or the number of children living in the household, if any...
Accessible living means living without stairs. Rooms need to be chosen large enough so that a wheelchair can maneuver comfortably (with a turning radius of 150cm (59 inches)). Clearances in the bathroom and, for example, in the kitchen also need to be larger. The kitchen should be lower, and there must be no base cabinets at the work surface, so that someone can work sitting down and prepare food. But you have probably already considered this sufficiently.
Not every plot of land is suitable for a bungalow. This should be taken into account during the search.
A bungalow offers (not only for those with disabilities) a higher quality of life. We do not know the age or the number of children living in the household, if any...
Accessible living means living without stairs. Rooms need to be chosen large enough so that a wheelchair can maneuver comfortably (with a turning radius of 150cm (59 inches)). Clearances in the bathroom and, for example, in the kitchen also need to be larger. The kitchen should be lower, and there must be no base cabinets at the work surface, so that someone can work sitting down and prepare food. But you have probably already considered this sufficiently.
Not every plot of land is suitable for a bungalow. This should be taken into account during the search.
Yes, a bungalow is certainly convenient – unfortunately, the plots here (size/price) make that difficult, so we are leaning more towards preparing for an elevator...
Regarding washing laundry on different floors, I prefer to have that upstairs – yes, there are trips involved, but I’d rather avoid carrying laundry up and down stairs (both dirty and clean+wet)!
Downstairs (especially in the basement) it’s quite a hassle to carry laundry around; we already have that in our rental apartment, where we only hang laundry up there (unless it’s on the small balcony) 🙁
As far as I know, the KfW doesn’t offer anything for new builds. However, if you want to buy an existing property and then renovate it to be barrier-free, check out program 159 from KfW.If I remember correctly (which I find somewhat contradictory), there are no KfW subsidies for accessibility in owner-occupied new builds, but there are for the renovation of existing properties, as well as for new (or converted) rental apartments, though with rent caps.
Regarding washing laundry on different floors, I prefer to have that upstairs – yes, there are trips involved, but I’d rather avoid carrying laundry up and down stairs (both dirty and clean+wet)!
Downstairs (especially in the basement) it’s quite a hassle to carry laundry around; we already have that in our rental apartment, where we only hang laundry up there (unless it’s on the small balcony) 🙁
I
italiano8312 Nov 2013 21:54Hi,
I haven’t read all the posts from the users, but you can also get a subsidy from your health insurance if you want to renovate or build barrier-free.
In our family, we received a subsidy of around 6,000 euros (about $6,600). It might be worth asking about.
Which federal state do you live in? In Baden-Württemberg, the L-Bank offers interesting financing conditions.
I haven’t read all the posts from the users, but you can also get a subsidy from your health insurance if you want to renovate or build barrier-free.
In our family, we received a subsidy of around 6,000 euros (about $6,600). It might be worth asking about.
Which federal state do you live in? In Baden-Württemberg, the L-Bank offers interesting financing conditions.
I
italiano8312 Nov 2013 21:55Sorry... I just read that you live in Berlin..
H
Hans Max Wurth16 Nov 2013 05:16Regarding funding options for barrier-free living, there is a program offered by KfW (Credit Institute for Reconstruction). This provides a subsidized loan of up to 50,000 euros (approx. 50,000 USD) per housing unit, meaning you benefit from lower interest rates.
Additional funding varies between federal states and municipalities. Please contact your local municipal administration to inquire whether any support is available.
Planning considerations: The building must be designed without thresholds or steps. The bathroom area should be arranged so that you can enter the shower level with no step. Balcony doors and terrace access should also be built without thresholds. Furthermore, door widths, the layout of sanitary fixtures, and maneuvering spaces must be sized to allow comfortable wheelchair access. The standard DIN 18040-2 applies here.
Ideally, plan everything on the ground floor (bungalow). If this is not possible, it is advisable to plan for a lift with suitable dimensions for a wheelchair. This can also be retrofitted later if needed; however, the required space should be considered during the initial planning stages. The cost for such a lift is approximately €20,000 (approx. 20,000 USD) if installed during construction, and around €25,000 (approx. 25,000 USD) if retrofitted afterwards (from ground floor to top floor without basement).
Additional funding varies between federal states and municipalities. Please contact your local municipal administration to inquire whether any support is available.
Planning considerations: The building must be designed without thresholds or steps. The bathroom area should be arranged so that you can enter the shower level with no step. Balcony doors and terrace access should also be built without thresholds. Furthermore, door widths, the layout of sanitary fixtures, and maneuvering spaces must be sized to allow comfortable wheelchair access. The standard DIN 18040-2 applies here.
Ideally, plan everything on the ground floor (bungalow). If this is not possible, it is advisable to plan for a lift with suitable dimensions for a wheelchair. This can also be retrofitted later if needed; however, the required space should be considered during the initial planning stages. The cost for such a lift is approximately €20,000 (approx. 20,000 USD) if installed during construction, and around €25,000 (approx. 25,000 USD) if retrofitted afterwards (from ground floor to top floor without basement).
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