Changing the Mindset from ‘Granny Flat’ to Flexible Home Adaptations

Joint RIAI/AOTI Position Paper published

On behalf of the Enabling Environments Advisory Group, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new joint RIAI/AOTI Position Paper: Changing the Mindset from ‘Granny Flat’ to Flexible Home Adaptations.

Background:

This Position Paper is a result of collaboration between the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, Enabling Environments Group (formally the Housing Advisory Group) and the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI), Universal Design Task Force Liaison Group. A Liaison Group was established following the launch of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland publication, Housing Design Guidelines for Occupational Therapists (2019). The function of the liaison was to share knowledge; to improve understanding of Occupational Therapists’ role and role of Architect; to respect the different and unique skills of each professional group and to work on specific projects to inform guidance in relation to the built environment to improve usability of the built environment for all.

This Joint Position Paper proposes a set of Planning Guidelines for Flexible Home Adaptations that are consistent with current published government policy to enable people to live independently or with support in their own homes and communities. It sets out how Local Authorities can adopt broader criteria for flexible home adaptations via specific guidance and the provision of case study examples. The provision of multi-generational or multi-occupancy homes would help ‘densify’ suburbs, helping to combat loneliness, and enable those who require support to remain living in their own homes and communities.

Position:

RIAI and AOTI support the provision of homes, that reflects the identified demographic and support needs of the population of Ireland and acknowledges the right of people to choose to remain in place.

The Position Paper was informed by a Working Group review of Local Authority Development Plans and experience of occupational therapists advocating and supporting individuals and families to obtain homes that are designed to best suit their needs. A wide range of disparities, inconsistencies and different planning criteria for ‘granny flats’ or family flats was discovered across the country, which are not reflective of current Housing Agency Policy, Age Friendly Housing or the demographic needs of the Irish population.

Congratulations to all involved in producing this new resource and in particular to Linda Horgan who co-authored it.

EEAG Committee