Top 5: Wheelchair accessible flat hunting questions

I’ve just experienced the throes of looking for a new flat. It’s hard enough looking for an affordable, warm and dry house in Auckland, let alone somewhere that is accessible - or at least has the potential to be made accessible-ish.

My old flat leaked, and while it is accessible enough for me, my flatmates and I needed to move out - especially since weather events seem to be the new thing in Auckland. I’ve only ever moved into already established flats, so looking for a place from scratch was a new challenge. I’ve written about trying to find an accessible flat before and TL;DR: it sucks! So this time around I had mentally prepared myself for the inevitable trauma of being rejected again and again from houses that don’t meet my accessibility requirements.

While the Government is making attempts to meet a 15% target of universally designed public housing new builds, there is little discourse or accountability around accessible housing in the private sector.

I asked the Minister of Housing Megan Woods about this and in a written statement she put the responsibility on the Ministry of Business and Innovation who were engaging with the disability community to “ensure it has a clear definition of the problems disabled people face with building accessibility, why these problems persist, and options both public and private residential buildings”.

“It is important that those who have the most at stake in terms of building accessibility are at the table and have their voices heard,” she said. Woods did not respond to questions on whether the Ministry of Housing collects data on accessible housing in the private sector. 

But based on my own experience, my conclusion on accessible private housing data is that there’s zilch. Here are the 5 questions I ask when going wheelchair accessible flat hunting that made me come to this conclusion.

Can I shut the bathroom door?

The bathroom is an essential part of every building, and like security guards scope a building for an emergency exit, I first scope them for their bathroom access. I’ve written about disabled people’s obsession with talking about accessible public bathrooms before, but it’s even more important in my own home. Usually I’d prefer a toilet that’s also in the main bathroom as there’s more space to move my chair. Toilets that are separate from the main bathroom are a lot smaller and I can’t close the door behind me, and I like to keep my dignity when going loo thanks. I did live in one flat when I could - miraculously! - close the door behind me, much to the relief of my flatmates.

Are there less than 3 steps into the house? 

It’s basically a given that nearly every home has steps to get inside, and after talking to an architecture friend, homes will be designed to be elevated even more after the Auckland floods. So it’s no surprise that every rental I visited had steps but I needed somewhere with the minimum amount to make a ramp possible. My rule was for 3 or less steps because then I could get a short-ish ramp built that wouldn’t take up too much space and zig-zag around the whole front property to the door. 

Can I fit into the kitchen?

I never knew this was a question I needed to ask until going to a house viewing and I couldn’t fit my wheelchair through the gap into the kitchen. That particular house was literally from an episode of Hoarders but I couldn't tell if the house was always like that or if it was just because they were moving out (I hope it was the latter). I tried to squeeze through the gap in that kitchen so many times, but it wasn’t gonna work and access to coffee was a non-negotiable I couldn't compromise!

Is there convenient parking?

Parking was another non-negotiable because there is no way I am parking along the road and getting inside the house with my work laptop, gym bag and handbag safe and dry when it’s raining!

Please, property manager, can you pick me?

I got lots of tips and tricks from other renting friends about the letters and personal profiles they’ve sent property managers. So in preparation for applying for rentals, I wrote up a cover letter from myself and my flatmates to ‘sell’ ourselves as the dream tenants. I wrote a 400-word email about how we are professional, working young women who go to church and enjoy baking cupcakes in the kitchen. I also said how difficult it was to find somewhere accessible and that when I do come across somewhere - like this house - I would look after it like my own home. After we had officially signed the lease, the property manager told me our application did stand out because of the letter - so it’s worth a try! 

I am now living in a lovely, warm and dry flat that was made accessible thanks to my dad’s ramp-making ingenuity. While, yes it was an emotionally stressful and time-consuming period as I searched for an accessible flat, it was worth the wait to be living where I am now. I can’t wait to invite all my wheelchair-using friends over so they can try the ramp too.