Mobility barriers drive 29% to consider moving

Nearly three in ten people with reduced mobility are considering leaving their neighbourhood because physical obstacles in buildings make independent living harder. The finding comes from the first Accessibility Barometer, published in Madrid on 16 September by Fundación Mutua de Propietarios. The study examines how these architectural barriers affect daily life.

The pressure extends beyond those already facing reduced mobility. If they had to use a wheelchair, 18% of Spaniards believe they would need to move to another municipality, while 22% say they would have to leave their neighbourhood.

Few homes offer a clear route inside

A third of respondents, 33%, say they would need to change building if they had to get around in a wheelchair. Of nearly 9.8 million residential buildings, only 3% — about 292,000 — provide a fully accessible route from the street to the home’s front door. The remaining 97% have at least one barrier.

Older homes are seen as a particular problem. Some 49% of people living in buildings constructed before 1964 say their property is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. That falls to 14% among those in newer buildings.

Cost holds back changes

For 31%, the cost is the biggest obstacle to making needed improvements in homeowner communities. A further 17% point to a lack of agreement. As a result, 78% of communities have made no accessibility improvements, and 61% do not expect to make them in the coming years.

The prospect of mobility problems also puts current homes at risk. Some 36% of Spaniards say they would have to give up their present residence, while 84% believe adapting it to new needs would be financially difficult.

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com