What Is the Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS)?
The Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS) sets out nationally recognised design principles that make homes safer, more accessible, and adaptable for people of all ages and abilities.
LHDS focuses on ensuring homes can:
- Be easily accessed by occupants and visitors
- Support changing mobility needs over time
- Reduce the need for costly future modifications
- Promote independence and inclusive living
The standard applies to new residential dwellings and is increasingly referenced by planning policies, funding bodies, housing providers, and disability-related programs, including SDA-adjacent housing.
LHDS Performance Levels Explained
🟢Silver Level
Provides essential accessibility features, including:
- Step-free entry
- Wider doorways and corridors
- Accessible ground-floor toilet
- Reinforced bathroom walls for future grab rails
Silver level is commonly referenced as the baseline livable housing standard.
🔵 Gold Level
Builds on Silver and adds:
- Improved circulation space
- Enhanced bathroom and shower accessibility
- Safer internal layouts
- Greater flexibility for mobility aids
- Gold level supports long-term adaptability and ageing in place.
🟣 Platinum Level
The highest LHDS level, providing:
- Fully accessible layouts
- Step-free access throughout key areas
- Larger circulation and transfer spaces
- Enhanced safety and usability
Platinum level aligns closely with high-accessibility housing outcomes.
How the LHDS Certification Process Works
How the LHDS Certification Process Works
- Design Review
- Assessment of architectural drawings against LHDS requirements
- Identification of any non-compliances
- Practical recommendations for compliance
- Construction / As-Built Review
- Inspection of completed works
- Verification against approved LHDS-compliant design
- Certification
- Issue of formal LHDS assessment or certification documentation
- Suitable for submission to councils, funding bodies, or project stakeholders
Who Can Undertake an LHDS Assessment?
LHDS assessments must be completed by a qualified and suitably experienced assessor, typically including:
- ✔ Livable Housing Design Standard Assessor
- ✔ Qualified Access Consultant
- ✔ Professionals with demonstrated experience in accessibility and housing standards
Amit Chopra, Director of SDA Building Approval, is a:
- Registered Building Surveyor
- Livable Housing Design Standard Assessor
- Qualified Access Consultant
This ensures assessments are undertaken with a strong understanding of both accessibility principles and building regulations
Authoritative Reference Links
For official guidance and background information, refer to:
- Livable Housing Australia (LHA)
https://livablehousingaustralia.org.au - Livable Housing Design Guidelines
https://livablehousingaustralia.org.au/design-guidelines - Australian Government – Accessible & Inclusive Housing
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/accessibility
(Links provided for reference and guidance only.)