Accessible dwellings in Bremen: an inclusive approach to homeownership
In a recent survey published on 14 May, housing company Vonovia discovered that a significant number of tenants in the city-state of Bremen are interested in barrier-free apartments. The survey, conducted by polling institute Civey, gathered responses from over 2,500 tenants nationwide.
The findings suggest that 62% of residents in Bremen consider barrier-free apartments when looking for a new rental, which is slightly above the national average of 61.5%. Among these, 47.7% find it 'very important' for the design and access of the apartment to be suitable for mobility-impaired persons.
Interestingly, the survey results reveal that the interest in barrier-free apartments among tenants in Bremen varies significantly across age groups. In the age group between 18 to 29, only 14.8% consider the topic important, while among the age group 50 to 64 years, 75.5% of tenants find it important. The survey underscores that this trend continues for the age group over 65 years, with 87.7% of tenants considering barrier-free apartments important.
On the other hand, the survey findings stress that only 31.6% of tenants in Bremen find the topic of barrier-free apartments to be less or not important at all. This indicates a strong preference for accessible housing among the majority of Bremen's tenants, particularly among older age groups.
The survey results demonstrate that the interest in barrier-free apartments among tenants in Bremen is slightly above the national average. This could be due to the increasing need for accessible housing as physical mobility and accessibility needs typically increase with age, making barrier-free housing more necessary and attractive to older adults than to younger people.
In conclusion, the survey findings highlight the importance of barrier-free housing for tenants in Bremen, especially among older age groups. The survey results reinforce the need for housing companies like Vonovia to prioritise accessible housing options in their rental properties to cater to the growing demand.
