Class 1a to Class 1b Building Conversions

This information has been prepared by Equal Access to provide guidance on access requirements to Class 1b boarding houses (or rooming houses).

Our Class 1b Consulting Services

Equal Access has experience in the conversion of Class 1a houses to Class 1b’s for compliance, not only from an access perspective but also from Council enforcement and building permit perspectives. This experience positions our consultancy perfectly to provide accessibility advice when converting properties to boarding houses or rooming houses. We have intimate, practical experience and can assist at all stages of a Class 1b housing project. We know the building laws, disability laws and how the Council will assess any Class 1b building.

The Need

According to a 2009 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are four million people in Australia with a disability, which equates to 18.5% of the population who could require accessible rental accommodation within the community.

Firstly, what is a Class 1b Building?

A Class 1b building can be defined as one with a total floor area less than 300 m2 (measured over the enclosed or outer wall of the whole Class 1b building) and where not more than 12 people would ordinarily be resident. Any accommodation larger than this would usually be classified as a Class 3 building, such as a hotel, motel or backpackers.

Relevant Legislation

On 1 May 2011, the Commonwealth Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 (Premises Standards) were introduced and adopted into the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and state-based legislation, including the Victorian Building Regulations 2006. The objectives of the Premises Standards are to ensure that “dignified, equitable, cost-effective and reasonably achievable access to buildings, and facilities and services within buildings, is provided for people with a disability“. The Premises Standards apply to new buildings and existing buildings being altered, including certain ‘specified’ Class 1b buildings, and set out clear parameters for access requirements. Prior to 1 May 2011, there were no prescriptive requirements within the building regulations (including previous versions of the BCA) for Class 1b buildings, but the lack of access to these buildings was (and still is) subject to complaints under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).

When do the Access Requirements Apply?

The application of the access provisions of the Premises Standards and BCA applies to ‘specified’ types of Class 1b buildings:

• A newly constructed Class 1b building where one or more rooms are made available for rent.
• An existing residence (i.e. Class 1a house, unit, townhouse or the like) is converted to a Class 1b building where four or more rooms are made available for rent.
• An existing Class 1b building is being altered. In this case, the new works and pathway from the new works to the principal entrance should comply, as well as an upgrade of the principal entrance if required.
• It also applies to short-term holiday accommodation such as cabins in caravan parks, tourist parks, farm stays, holiday resorts and similar tourist accommodation where there are four or more dwellings used for short-term holiday accommodation on the same allotment. In this case, a proportion of the dwellings would need to be accessible.
• There are many variations in short-term accommodation that could be made available, and landlords would need to carefully consider the implications of any scenario to ensure the correct application of the Premises Standards and BCA.

The Risk

It is important to note that Class 1 b buildings that are not included in the above definition of a ‘specified’ Class 1 b building (i.e. with less than four dwellings on the same allotment or less than four bedrooms in a converted existing house) would continue to be subject to possible ODA complaints. But compliance with the Premises Standards and BCA would grant the landlord immunity under the provisions of both documents. If a landlord fails to acknowledge the building’s accessibility requirements and operates it without considering the needs of people with disability, it will present a risk to the landlord under the DDA. A person with disability could make a complaint to the Human Rights Commission under Section 23: Access to Premises, or Section 25: Accommodation. Furthermore, if a landlord operates any boarding or rooming house without the necessary Building (or Planning) permits, the local Council could take action against the landlord, including serving Notices and Orders that could result in the landlord appearing in the Magistrates Court, where penalties, legal costs and criminal convictions could be imposed. It is therefore important for all parties involved in the rooming house industry to consider accessibility in the early stages of planning for any rooming house. Taking accessibility into account during the design or feasibility stage can save time and money.

Accessibility Considerations for a Class 1b Building

The following are the typical access provisions required for a Class 1b building:

• Continuous accessible paths from the main pedestrian entries into the site
• An accessible car parking space (where on-site parking is provided)
• A continuous accessible path from the car park to the entrance
• An accessible entrance into the building via the principal entrance doorway
• Access to and within at least one bedroom and associated accessible bathroom facilities
• Access to at least one of each type of common room/facility (e.g. kitchen, laundry, lounge, dining room, gym, swimming pool, patio area, games room, etc.)

Where to Get Help

Equal Access is perfectly positioned to provide access advice at all stages of all types of building projects. We are one of Australia’s leading Accredited Disability Access Consultancies and are registered with the Association of Consultants in Access Australia. For a number of years, we have provided a specialist consulting service to enhance the built environment and to provide ‘Equal Access’ for members of the community with a disability.

Download the factsheet

Download the Class_1B_Building_Converstions_Factsheet for more information on establishing a 1B property, such as student accommodation, rooming houses, bed & breakfasts B&B and refuges.

For Specialist Disability Accommodation, visit SDA Consulting Australia