Is an Informal Care Home right for you?
What is it?
An informal care home is a separate dwelling on your property intended for the person you are caring for. You may also live in the informal care home yourself. In that case, the person you are caring for will live in the main house.
- You can have a care home for informal caregivers installed in your backyard.
- You can also have an addition built onto your home.
- A third option is to convert a garage or other existing structure into a home for informal care.
How does it work?
You may need a permit to build an informal care home on your own property. However, there are a number of rules to follow. For example, you must comply with the Building Code. This code sets out rules regarding safety, health, and the environment.
Other rules
- A maximum of two people may live in the informal care home, at least one of whom must be receiving or providing informal care.
- If there are doubts about the informal care relationship, the municipality may request a statement from a general practitioner, district nurse, or other qualified individual or agency.
- You must comply with the general Requirements ancillary structures. These rules cover, among other things, the size and location of the structure.
- You may only use the ground floor of the informal care home as living space.
- Are you converting an existing structure on your property into a home for informal care? In that case, the size does not need to meet the Requirements permit-free construction.
- Do you live outside a built-up area and are you considering a portable care home? In that case, there are no additional Requirements the building footprint.
- Once the informal care arrangement ends, you may no longer use the structure as a residence. You do not have to tear down the structure, but you must remove the kitchen and bathroom.
Rivierenland Environmental Agency
The Omgevingsdienst Rivierenland (ODR) performs construction and environmental tasks for the municipality of West Maas en Waal. For questions about an environmental permit, you can contact them.
Additional information
- An informal care home is not a new residence and therefore does not receive a separate house number. If you would still like a house number, please contact the municipality.
- Informal care homes are not taken into account when determining the WOZ value. Exceptions to this rule are:
- informal care homes attached to the main residence
- a converted barn
In that case, the municipality may take that value into account.
For more information, visit www.mantelzorg.nl.