Older and less able residents who are having difficulty improving access to their flats are to benefit from the findings of UNSW research.

The work, which was commissioned by Leichhardt Council, focuses on older residents, who often run into trouble when trying to make alterations to improve home access and useability in strata-run buildings.

The report ‘Home Modifications in Strata Properties’ was written by Dr Hazel Easthope from UNSW’s City Futures Research Centre in the Faculty of Built Environment and includes information from interviews with Leichhardt residents.

The report identifies opportunities for improvements in the areas of education, legislation and Council practices to improve the accessibility of existing strata properties and calls for a greater emphasis on accessibility in all new strata buildings.

"Improving the processes for getting home modifications undertaken in strata properties in effect means reducing the time that people are either living in a home that is not safe for them, or the time they have to live away from home," says Dr Easthope.

For more information, go to the Leichhardt Council website.

Media contact: Susi Hamilton, UNSW Media Office, 0422 934 024