Make a home easier to live in as you get older

A weekend-by-weekend plan to add grab rails, handrails, locks and alarms that make a home safer and easier to live in long-term.

Guides in this project

01Fit a grab rail by the bath or toilet 02Fit a key safe 03Fit a stair handrail 04Fit a door chain or door limiter 05Check your fire escape route and keys 06Test and replace smoke alarm batteries 07Fit a carbon monoxide alarm

AB-01Plan the work and get everything readyWalk round the house and list the trouble spots: steps, baths, stairs, doors, and whether smoke or CO alarms are missing or old. If mobility or health needs are involved, the local council can arrange an occupational therapist assessment, which can also help with funding for some adaptations. Buy materials in one trip to avoid delays, and book a day off or a free weekend for each phase below rather than trying to do it all at once. Before any drilling into a wall, floor or ceiling in later phases, always check with a detector first — expect to find a cable or pipe even where you don't think one should be.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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1 each · Notebook or phone list of jobs

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AB-02Fit grab rails in the bathroomFollow the guide 'Fit a grab rail by the bath or toilet' for this phase. Bathrooms have extra electrical rules because of the space around the bath or shower, so if you need any socket or switch work done near this area, get a registered electrician in — it can be notifiable work. This phase usually takes half a day once you've checked the wall for cables and pipes and confirmed where the rail will take weight.

RULES

1 each · Grab rail (per guide)

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1 set · Fixings suited to wall type

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KNOW THE RULES

Work in the space around a bath or shower is notifiable under Part P in England, and can be notifiable in Wales. Fitting a rail itself is not electrical work, but any related socket or switch work near the bath needs a registered electrician.

AB-03Fit a key safe by the front or back doorFollow the guide 'Fit a key safe' for this phase. This is handy if carers, family or emergency services need access. Fit it on an outside wall away from direct rain where possible, and check for cables or pipes before drilling, since outdoor sockets or lights often run nearby.

1 each · Key safe

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1 set · Masonry fixings

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AB-04Fit a stair handrailFollow the guide 'Fit a stair handrail' for this phase. Stairs take a lot of weight and knocks, so the fixings need to go into something solid — don't rely on plasterboard alone. This is usually a half-day job, but allow extra time if the wall needs filling and repainting afterwards.

1 set · Handrail and brackets

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1 set · Structural fixings

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AB-05Fit a door chain or limiterFollow the guide 'Fit a door chain or door limiter' for this phase. This lets someone answer the door safely without opening it fully, which matters more if they're managing visitors, deliveries or unexpected callers alone. It's a quick job, usually under an hour, and can be done the same day as the key safe.

1 each · Door chain or limiter

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1 set · Screws (included with most kits)

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AB-06Check the fire escape route and keysFollow the guide 'Check your fire escape route and keys' for this phase. Do this once the door hardware above is fitted, since chains and limiters can affect how quickly someone can get out. No drilling is needed here, but it's worth doing with everyone who lives in the house so they know the plan.

1 each · Spare key storage (if needed)

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AB-07Test and replace smoke alarm batteriesFollow the guide 'Test and replace smoke alarm batteries' for this phase. If the alarms are mains-wired rather than battery, don't touch the wiring yourself — any fault-finding or replacement on a hardwired system is a job for a registered electrician. Battery alarms are a simple DIY job that takes about 15 minutes per alarm.

RULES

2 each · 9V or AA batteries (per alarm)

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KNOW THE RULES

Hardwired smoke alarm wiring is connected to a house circuit. Changing or repairing this wiring is work for a registered electrician, not a DIY job, even though swapping batteries in a standalone alarm is fine.

AB-08Fit a carbon monoxide alarmFollow the guide 'Fit a carbon monoxide alarm' for this phase. Fit one in any room with a boiler, gas fire or wood burner. This is a battery-operated unit you can fit yourself — but any gas appliance faults or servicing need a Gas Safe registered engineer, not a DIY job.

1 each · Carbon monoxide alarm

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1 set · Wall fixings

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AB-09Final check and timelineTest every rail, lock, and alarm once fitted, and walk through the fire escape route again with everyone in the house. Spread across two weekends plus a couple of weekday evenings, this whole project typically takes 3 to 5 days of actual work. All phases together usually cost between £150 and £300 in materials, more if an electrician is needed for bathroom work or hardwired alarms.

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