A guide for designing for aged and disabled home users has been released.

The Universal Housing Design recommends the inclusion of key easy living features that aim to make homes easier and safer to use for all occupants, including people with disability, ageing Australians, people with temporary injuries and families with young children.

The voluntary Livable Housing Design guidelines consist of three levels: silver, gold and platinum and outline the key features required to meet each standard.

Silver standards include:

- a safe and continuous path of travel from the street entrance and/or parking area to a dwelling entrance that is level

- at least one level entrance into the dwelling

- internal doors and corridors that facilitate comfortable and unimpeded movement between spaces

- a toilet on the ground (or entry) level that provides easy access

- a bathroom that contains a hobless (step-free) shower recess

- reinforced walls around the toilet, shower and bath to support the safe installation of grabrails at a later date

In late 2009, the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children Services, Bill Shorten, convened the National Dialogue on Universal Housing Design, bringing together representatives from all levels of government and key stakeholders, including the Property Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects and Australian Local Government Association.

"The voluntary guidelines combine aspirational targets for livable design with practical know how to encourage the building of more adaptable homes," says Peter Verwer, CEO of the Property Council of Australia.

"A handful of design features, such as reinforced bathroom walls, smart positioning of power points and wider corridors, will give Australians greater independence in their homes.

"Livable homes are specifically designed to evolve over time and better cater for the changing needs of families with young children and those with disabilities, particularly seniors."

The federal government will invest $1 million over four years to promote Livable Housing.