1. Bedrooms
Enable New Zealand will not approve the purchase of additional bedrooms to a property where this is due to a social need ie. there are not enough rooms for the occupants of the home even though one of the occupants has a disability.

The Specialised Housing Assessor must demonstrate that without the purchase of an additional bedroom the person or family would suffer undue hardship and that all other options have been considered eg moving home, reallocating the use of rooms within the home.

Where there is a more cost effective solution available eg. convert the study into another bedroom, this should be considered prior to proposing the purchase of an additional bedroom.

2. Choice of home to be modified
The person's 'home' is where the person resides (lives and sleeps). This includes rented properties.

Where the person is living in different homes during the week, the decision as to which home to modify is the person's. If the person is under a shared care arrangement (ie. foster care, separated parents) the Specialised Housing Assessor should consider portable equipment to solve the identified needs.

Enable New Zealand can only approve modifications to one environment. Where there are extenuating circumstances the Ministry of Health may approve funding to both homes.

3. Covered Transfer Areas
Covered transfer areas will only be purchased where it is demonstrated that the person takes considerable time to transfer from his/her wheelchair into a vehicle and there is a consequent risk. The area to be covered will be the minimum required to meet the identified need. Enable New Zealand will not approve the purchase of carports or covered ramps.

4. Fencing
Fencing and/or gates will only be purchased when the person is at risk of injury as a result of their disability.

The responsibilities of the Property Owner and neighbour to provide fencing for their properties must be considered.

Where a fence is to be purchased for a child with a disability, comparison of the needs of that child to that of a child without a disability must be undertaken ie. any child under five requires supervision and secure fencing.

The Specialised Housing Assessor must consider the clinical aspects of the child's disability regarding future needs ie. is this going to be a problem in a year's time?
The recommended fenced area must be the minimum to prevent risk or injury ie. a section by the road, or a small fenced area within the boundaries allowing for supervision and sufficient play area.

5. Garage Door Openers
Enable New Zealand will only approve the purchase of an automatic garage door opener where this is the only access point into the home, and the person is unable to open the existing garage doors.

Enable New Zealand will not approve funding where this is only to allow the person to park a vehicle in the garage and they currently are unable to manage the manual garage door.

6. Handrails
Enable New Zealand will only approve the purchase of handrails to one entry/exit point into the home where the person is unable to independently use the existing steps. The Specialised Housing Assessor should consider the most cost effective and appropriate access to alter to meet the person's needs.

Handrails are processed as housing modifications.

7. Heating/Air Conditioning
Heating or air conditioning will only be purchased in exceptional circumstances where it is essential to enable the person to remain in his/her own home.

Enable New Zealand will only consider approving the purchase of heating or air conditioning that is additional to that which is required by a person without a disability.

The need to provide heating in a home is a standard requirement of all families regardless of disability. The Specialised Housing Assessor must consider the heating needs of a person without a disability and justify why the person's needs are extra to these and how they relate to his/her disability.

This must be substantiated by reference to supporting literature and/or medical opinion.

Enable New Zealand will only consider approving the purchase of minimum heating and/or air conditioning required ie. only one or two rooms, not the entire house.

8. Kitchen Modifications
Kitchen modifications are purchased where it is essential to enable the person to be independent in the preparation of food and drinks so he/she can remain in his/her home.

Any recommended kitchen modifications should consider the other people living in the home environment and their ability to assist with some meal preparation tasks. Where there are other family members and/or support available in the home, the Specialised Housing Assessor must consider what assistance these people can provide ie. the person's spouse/partner may be able to assist with the preparation of meals.

The person may require an accessible area to prepare snacks or drinks at times of the day when they may be by themselves.

Where the person lives alone with no, or minimal, support to undertake meal preparation tasks, Enable New Zealand will consider an application to modify the existing kitchen so the person can achieve essential food preparation needs to enable them to continue residing in their own home.

9. Lighting
Applications for additional lighting may be considered for funding. The need to provide lighting is a standard requirement for all homes. The assessment must consider the lighting needs of a person without a disability and justify why the person's needs are extra to these and how they relate to his/her disability.

The assessment team needs to include a Specialist Assessor accredited in the area of Vision.

10. Make-good
Enable New Zealand will only approve the purchase of minimal make-good to the area affected by the modification.

The Contractor will allow to make-good the immediate areas where fixtures, fittings, walls, floors etc. have been removed/modified and finish to match and blend with the existing decor. Where it is not possible to match the modified area with the existing, the Contractor should match and repair as close as is possible eg. the wallpaper/carpet is no longer available.

Note: Enable New Zealand will not approve funding to purchase the redecoration of an entire area.

The Property Owner should be made fully aware of the extent of 'making-good' the affected areas prior to any modifications proceeding.

Where the Property Owner chooses to redecorate the entire area, they will need to fund the additional cost associated with this.

11. New Buildings
Where the modifications are to be incorporated into a new house being constructed, the application must show the additional steps taken to accommodate the person's disability over and above standard features in a home.

The assessment must compare what would be regarded as a 'standard' with the additional features required for the person. Enable New Zealand will only consider additional costs required to accommodate the person's disabilities eg. the difference in cost between a standard door and a sliding cavity door, not the full price of installing a new sliding door.

Enable New Zealand does not approve funding to purchase granny flats or sleep outs. As with the purchase of modifications incorporated into a new house, only the disability related modifications over and above the standard features will be considered.

12. People with a Terminal Condition
Enable New Zealand will not approve funding to purchase housing modifications if the person is receiving palliative care services.

Applications for housing modifications will only be approved where it is essential and all other options such as equipment, personal care etc have been considered and discounted as a means of resolving the identified issue.

To assist Enable New Zealand to reach a decision the Specialised Housing Assessor's report must outline the following:

• Life expectancy and prognosis
• Home support available
• Other options considered
• Consequences of not providing the modifications
• Person's choice and preference.

13. Ramps/Easy-steps
Enable New Zealand will only approve funding to purchase a modification for one access/egress where the person is unable to independently use the existing steps, or manage with the aid of a handrail.

The Specialised Housing Assessor must consider the most cost effective and appropriate access to alter, to meet the person's disability needs. Enable New Zealand will not approve funding for the purchase of steps to the ramp as an ambulant person may also use the ramp.

14. Relocation
Where the person has relocated to a newly purchased home which requires modifications due to the person's disability, consideration will be given to the choice of property made by the person.

Modification grants will not be provided when the home that has been purchased is clearly inadequate for their needs eg. the person is a wheelchair user and has purchased a two-storey house and has no means of accessing the second level, Enable New Zealand will not consider an application for funding for the installation of a through floor lift.

15. Repairs and Maintenance
All repairs and maintenance are the Property Owner's responsibility. Enable New Zealand will not approve funding for any costs involved with repairs and maintenance.

If during the course of modifications, maintenance work is uncovered which needs to be resolved before the work can be completed, the Property Owner is responsible for any associated costs.

16. Renal Dialysis Machine Installation
The first $500 of Renal Dialysis Machine installation is to be met by the local District Health Board (DHB). Funding will be considered for additional installation costs.

17. Stairlifts/Low Rise Platform lifts/Hoists
Stairlifts/Low Rise Platform lifts/Hoists are regarded as equipment that require housing modifications to install. These should be applied for using the housing modification process but the cost of the equipment will not be included in the Income and Asset test.

Quotes for housing modifications, that may include stairlifts/low rise (up to 1 metre high) platform lifts/hoists, must itemise the equipment separately from any installation or modification costs. These items need asset labelling and must be returned to Enable Stores when they are no longer required. The full cost of removal and any make-good will be met with Ministry of Health funds. Enable Stores must be contacted to arrange removal.

'Through-floor lifts' are processed as housing modifications and considered permanent housing modifications and not items of equipment.

18. Second Modifications of the Same Type or moving to another home
Where a person has already had access to funding for modifying one residence, funding approval for similar modifications in a second residence (ie. if the person moves) will only be considered if extenuating circumstances exist surrounding the move.

Where extenuating circumstances have precipitated the need for additional modifications, additional funding may be considered.

The Specialised Housing Assessor must demonstrate that there has been a change in the person's individual circumstances that are beyond their control, and that without the additional modifications they would be unable to return to/remain in their home. An application for additional funding may be considered in the following instances:

• Divorce/change in marital status that has meant that the family home has been sold as part of a matrimonial settlement.
• Forced eviction from a rental property - consideration must be given to the reason for eviction.
• Abuse/restraining orders etc where the person has been forced to relocate.
• Change in needs resulting in it being more cost effective to alter a new residence rather than to alter the existing.
• Job change due to company redeployment, or where the person has a confirmed offer of employment in another town, or to accept promotion or the furthering of their career.

Where it is identified that modifications of the same type are required as the result of a move out of personal choice and within the control of the person, additional funding will not be available. In the following instances funding will not be made available:

• A move due to personal preference.
• A move for social reasons eg. dislike for neighbours.
• A move to a smaller house requiring less maintenance/upkeep.
• A move to an inappropriate home regardless of reasons for moving.

The following exceptions will be considered for funding of second modifications of the same type:

• Young adults leaving home for the first time into long term accommodation.
• Melded families.
• Parent/s moving to their children's home instead of residential care. Long term prognosis and any relevant care packages must be considered.
• Move to be closer to care. The person's Support Needs Level must be taken into consideration.

19. Services
Enable New Zealand will not approve grants for the purchase of basic services into a house, eg. Clean running water, inside toilet, electricity etc. The provision of increased water pressure (eg. the installation of a new water cylinder) is considered to be a home improvement and as such cannot be addressed with Ministry of Health funding.

20. Storage and Cupboards
Enable New Zealand does not approve funding for the purchase of additional storage and/or cupboards.

Where it has been necessary to remove a cupboard in the course of modifying a home, Enable New Zealand may consider a reasonable request to replace the removed cupboard. It will need to be demonstrated that without these modifications the person/family is unfairly disadvantaged.

21. Toilets (WC)
Additional toilets may only be purchased where it is a more cost effective solution than modifications to enable the person to access the existing toilet.

22. Wet Area Showers
Where a person is unable to use the existing bathing facilities, the Specialised Housing Assessor must consider the provision of equipment to meet the identified need, eg. bathboard, shower over the bath etc. Enable New Zealand will only approve funding for the purchase of modifications to the shower cubicle or wet area shower where there is no other viable alternative and all other options have been investigated including day care and personal care services.
Where the cost effective option is to remove the bath to allow installation of a wet area shower, but the Property Owner wishes to retain the bath, any additional costs incurred are the responsibility of the home owner.

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