How the National Construction Code is making new homes more livable
The National Construction Code has changed the way new homes are designed, with the Livable Housing Design Standard introducing minimum accessibility requirements for new houses and units. In Queensland, these requirements have applied since 1 October 2023. Rather than thinking of them simply as disability requirements, they are designed to make homes easier and safer for everyone to use throughout different stages of life.
What does this mean for your new home?
Key design requirements include at least one step-free entry into the home, wider internal doors and corridors, step-free access into a bathroom and shower, an accessible toilet, and reinforcement within bathroom and toilet walls so grabrails can be installed in the future if required.
When incorporated into the design from the beginning, these features can be relatively unobtrusive. The result is simply a home that is more practical, adaptable and comfortable to live in.
The benefits go well beyond disability access
A step-free entrance is useful when pushing a pram, bringing in shopping or dealing with a temporary injury. Wider doors and passages provide a more spacious feel and make moving furniture easier. A level-entry shower can create a cleaner, more contemporary bathroom design while also reducing barriers.
Most importantly, these features help future-proof your home. As circumstances change, your home has greater capacity to change with you, potentially allowing you to remain in it for longer without expensive alterations later.
Queensland has also introduced additional practical compliance options in 2026, including greater flexibility in accessible bathroom design and a ramp-ready option for elevated homes, helping designers achieve accessibility outcomes while responding to different sites and housing styles.
GOOD DESIGN ISN’T JUST ABOUT HOW YOUR HOME LOOKS TODAY. IT’S ABOUT CREATING A HOME THAT WORKS FOR THE FUTURE.
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