Livable Housing Design Guidelines Fourth Edition was produced by LHA with input from LHA’s industry reference group and published in 2017. This is the final edition of the Livable Housing Design Guidelines, and no updates will be done to Livable Housing Design Guidelines Fourth Edition.

The LHDG’s established a baseline for universal design principles and access for design and as-built dwellings in Australia. LHDG’s have raised community awareness and informed development of the following:

• 2022 National Construction Code (NCC) minimum standard regulatory pathway adapted from the LHDGs Silver performance level.
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Supported Disability Accommodation (SDA) design standards.
• The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) beyond minimum voluntary standard for livable housing design adapted from LHDGs Gold performance level.

From 30 June 20025 LHA will cease to operate. LHA acknowledges there will still be demand in the marketplace for LHA Assessors. Therefore, LHA have been working closely with Access Institute to develop an alternative process for LHA Assessors wishing to continue to operate as LHA Design Guideline Assessors and to transition to a new administrative regime overseen by Access Institute.

LHA has granted rights to the Access Institute to provide an administration regime to continue registration of LHA Assessors. The administration regime provided by Access Institute will maintain the key requirements for LHA Assessors, namely:
• Ensuring professional currency from one of the six prerequisite professions streams: Architects, Building Designers, Builders, Occupational Therapists, Access Consultants and Building Surveyors.
• Ensuring currency of professional indemnity insurance with minimum two million dollars of coverage.
• Ensuring an up-to-date LHA Assessor code of conduct is in place, and
• Ensuring all training requirements have been met.

From 1st July 2025 all LHA Assessor registrations with LHA will lapse and LHA Assessors will no longer have the authority to assess and certify designs or as built dwellings under the LHA assessment criteria, register assessments with LHA, or use the LHA assessment forms or logos. Nor will LHA Assessors be listed on the LHA Assessor website.

LHA has granted permission to the Access Institute to re-brand the LHA Assessment forms and Certificates to include Access Institute’s logo, continue to offer LHA Assessor training to those wishing to become LHA Assessors, and list registered LHA Assessors registered under the Access Institutes administration regime on the access institute website.

For existing LHA Assessors wishing to continue to operate as LHA Design Guideline Assessors, they can transition from LHA to Access Institute administration.

All existing LHA Assessors wishing to transition and receive updated logos, assessment forms and other required documentation necessary to operate as an LHA Design Guideline Assessor, and to be advertised on the LHA Design Guideline Assessor listing on the access institute administered website, will need to complete the required documentation and provide copies of relevant current prerequisites and insurance proofs and pay the annual administration fee.