Is the UK Building Homes That Work for Your Parents? Not Yet.
If you have older parents or loved ones who are finding stairs harder to manage or who worry about staying safe at home, you’re not alone – and it’s being claimed that the homes being built across the country still aren’t meeting their basic needs.
Despite strong promises from the government in 2022 to ensure all new homes are built to higher accessibility standards, the vast majority of properties still don’t include essential features like step-free access, wider doorways, or layouts that can adapt as people age, say reports.
These are known as M4(2) standards – and they make homes far more liveable and safer for people with age-related mobility changes, joint pain, balance issues, or even temporary injuries. But because the government hasn’t yet followed through on its commitment, over 300,000 homes have been built to the much lower M4(1) standard instead. These homes might be “visitable” (you can get in the front door and use a downstairs loo), but they aren’t designed for someone to live safely and independently if their mobility changes.
Every month, another 13,000 inaccessible homes are built – locking in problems for families for decades to come.
Experts, including Lord Richard Best and award-winning architect Amy Francis-Smith, warn that this ongoing delay is a costly mistake. It means families face expensive renovations or the heartbreak of having to move loved ones out of the homes they love – often sooner than needed. Accessible design isn’t a luxury – it’s essential, says Sam Davies, Director of Age Care Bathrooms. He argues that a modest investment of £1,400 per home now can help families avoid spending tens of thousands on adaptations or care placements later.
Even architects agree that building to the M4(2) standard doesn’t just help older adults – it supports families with pushchairs, people recovering from surgery, and anyone who wants to grow older in their own home, with dignity.
A new petition has launched calling on the government to finally deliver on its promise and make M4(2) the minimum standard for all new homes – with only rare, justified exceptions.
If you want to see homes built with your parents or grandparents in mind – and with future-proofing that benefits everyone — you can sign the petition here:
👉 Sign the petition