48223 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Housing

48223 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Housing: Does she agree with Retirement Commission policy specialist Jordon King that few landlords have actually made the kinds of accessibility modifications that are needed to support people to remain in place, and while there is some openness to allowing modifications to happen, the cost and the type of modification that can be made are really flagged as big issues; if so, what, if anything, will she do to address this issue?

Hon Chris Bishop: I recognise the difficulty in modifying properties and that there are benefits to building in accessibility for housing from the outset. I am advised that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will continue to take steps to improve accessibility across the housing system where it is within its scope, such as encouraging accessibility within design guidance provided to community housing providers, and HUD administered funds which encourages applications that offer accessibility and universal design features. Regarding accessibility, the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 clarified that installing minor accessibility changes that improve safety for disabled people, such as visual alerts for fire, security alarms and doorbells, must be allowed where the changes have low impact and on the basis that the tenant will reverse them at the conclusion of the tenancy, if required by the landlord.