Smart Retrofit.
The retrofit of the existing home made great use of unused rooms to add living space for an essential worker, all while keeping the original owner’s privacy intact. By reworking the layout and using smart design ideas, the retrofit managed to increase housing options without compromising on the homeowner’s personal space.
Vision:
Retrofitting existing houses to create more affordable and adaptable housing options.
Guiding Principles:
This initiative aims to provide affordable housing for an essential worker, addressing a critical community need. The homeowner, now an empty nester, embarked on a renovation to transform their existing home, creating an independent living space specifically designed for a local health worker.
The project was inspired by Housing Matters’ Community Hosting Program (CHP), which connected homeowners, often living alone and seeking companionship, with individuals in precarious housing situations who were looking for shared living arrangements.
Although the CHP concluded in 2023, it left a lasting impact, motivating some homeowners to develop their own housing solutions tailored to their needs and circumstances.
Interested in learning more about this homeowner’s retrofit? Contact us at info@housingmatters.org.au
‘Sweat Equity’
The homeowner wanted to undertake an affordable retrofit. To keep costs down, they took on a hands-on role, working with a builder friend and hiring specialists for plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical tasks. They also got resourceful, using recycled materials, sourced second-hand items, and insulated common walls to minimize sound while maximizing functionality.
Whenever affordable housing is in short supply or access is restricted, a market for informal alternatives inevitably arises. While these informal housing options can alleviate some pressure on the formal housing market, they often come with significant drawbacks, such as heightened safety and security risks for the households involved.
Download fact sheet here.
