Age-friendly conversion Vienna Growing old at home – not in a care home.
Age-friendly conversion in Vienna: no catalogue products, no care-home look – solutions that genuinely help in everyday life. From the contractor that does the work — not from a broker.
Age-friendly conversion in Vienna: an age-friendly flat in Vienna usually costs 10,000 to 20,000 euros net – bathroom, thresholds, lighting and access in a single contract. Individual aids such as grab rails from €120, a wheelchair-accessible conversion €30,000 to €50,000. The City of Vienna subsidises accessibility measures; the application must be submitted before the contract is awarded.
It is not the flat that is too old – just a few spots in it
The internet is full of advertising and short on things that really help in everyday life. Most people want to grow old in their own flat. When at some point it no longer works, that is rarely down to the flat as a whole, but to individual spots: the rim of the bath, the threshold to the balcony, the step in front of the front door, the missing handrail in the stairwell, the light in the hallway that you first have to fumble for at night. An age-friendly conversion targets exactly these spots – deliberately, in the order in which the risks lie, and in a way that keeps the flat from looking like a care home.
We are a construction company that carries out the work itself. That means we plan the measures together with you, carry out the free trades with our own team and coordinate the licensed partners for plumbing, electrics and lift technology. You have one contact person, one contract and a fixed price after the site visit.
| Area | Typical problem | Age-friendly solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | bath rim 50 cm high, slippery floor | level-access shower, slip-resistant tiles, grab rails, shower seat |
| Toilet | too low, nothing to hold on to | toilet at comfort height 46–48 cm, fold-up support rail, room for a rollator |
| Doors | thresholds, too narrow for a rollator | remove thresholds, widen the opening to 80–90 cm, sliding door |
| Floors | carpet edges, loose runners, changes in level | continuous slip-resistant flooring without transitions |
| Lighting | dark hallways, switches hard to reach | motion sensors, orientation lighting, switches at 85–105 cm |
| Kitchen | wall units too high, deep base units | pull-outs instead of doors, adjusted worktop height, hob with automatic shut-off |
| Access to the flat | step in front of the door, heavy door | small ramp or wedge, low-force door closer, handle |
| Stairwell | handrail on one side only, poor lighting | handrails on both sides, step-edge marking, lighting with a longer run-on time |
| Balcony, terrace | threshold 10–20 cm | ramp inside and outside, or raising the floor surface |
Age-friendly conversion in Vienna: costs 2026
Guide prices net, as of 2026, Vienna, including materials and installation. Plumbing and electrical work is carried out by licensed partner firms that we coordinate. The price becomes binding after the site visit.
| Measure | Cost net | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab rails, fold-up support rail (each, fitted) | 120–380 € | a few hours | wall must be load-bearing; drywall needs reinforcement |
| Bath out, level-access shower | 4.600–9.500 € | 5–8 working days | the fall to the drain is the real task, see accessible bathroom |
| Complete age-friendly bathroom | 9.500–16.000 € | 8–12 working days | wheelchair-accessible to ÖNORM B 1600: €16,000–28,000 |
| Toilet at comfort height including rails | 900–1.800 € | 1 day | including pre-wall frame |
| Removing a door threshold (per door) | 180–450 € | ½ day | floor junction and transition profile |
| Widening a door to 80–90 cm (per door) | 1.200–2.800 € | 2–3 days | new frame, lintel depending on the wall, structural calculations for a load-bearing wall |
| Pocket sliding door instead of a hinged door | 950–1.800 € | 2 days | saves manoeuvring space, ideal for small bathrooms |
| Slip-resistant flooring without transitions | 45–95 €/m² | depending on area | vinyl or tiles R10/R11 |
| Lighting with motion sensors, orientation lighting | 350–1.200 € | 1–2 days | electrics through a partner, existing wiring stays |
| Moving sockets and switches (each) | 80–180 € | a few hours | reachable without bending and from a seated position |
| Adapting the kitchen (pull-outs, height, wall units) | 2.500–9.000 € | 3–6 days | often possible without a new kitchen |
| Ramp at flat or balcony door | 350–2.400 € | 1–2 days | portable from €350, permanently installed depending on height |
| Second-side handrail in the stairwell (per flight) | 450–950 € | 1 day | consent of the owners or property manager |
| Stairlift, platform lift, vertical lift | 4.000–50.000 € | see separate page | comparison of all lift types on Stairlift Vienna |
Total around €13,400 net in about 12 working days. The flat remains habitable throughout; the bathroom is the only room that cannot be used, for about a week.
Total around €41,500 net in about five weeks. Here the subsidy is particularly worthwhile, because the conversion is needed for medical reasons and the paperwork for it runs alongside from the very start.
Age-friendly conversion in Vienna room by room: from the bath rim to the light switch
Bathroom and toilet
The bathroom is the most important room. A level-access shower replaces the bath, slip-resistant tiles rated R10 or R11 prevent slipping, and a thermostatic mixer protects against scalding. Grab rails belong at the shower and beside the toilet, and a fold-down shower seat allows you to shower sitting down. The toilet is set at a comfort height of 46 to 48 cm so that standing up is easier. If you build in wall reinforcement for future grab rails during a bathroom renovation that is due anyway, you save many times the cost later.
Doors and thresholds
Thresholds are the most common tripping hazard in Vienna's old-building flats – between parquet and tiles, at the balcony door, at the front door. They are removed and replaced with flat transition profiles. Where a rollator or wheelchair has to pass, the door needs a clear opening width of at least 80 cm, ideally 90 cm. In old buildings 70 to 75 cm is usual; widening means a new frame and often a new lintel. In load-bearing walls this is master builder work with structural calculations, which we handle through licensed partners.
Floors
A continuous floor without changes in level, slip-resistant and non-reflective. Loose rugs and runners are an underestimated risk. Vinyl or luxury vinyl tiles laid over the existing floor are often the quickest solution, because they need little build-up height and avoid transitions.
Lighting and electrics
Having to fumble for the light switch on the way to the toilet at night is one of the most common situations in which people fall. Motion sensors in the hallway and bathroom, a soft orientation light close to the floor and switches at a height of 85 to 105 cm solve this. Sockets are placed at 40 to 85 cm so that you do not have to bend down. An empty conduit for a future emergency call system costs next to nothing during a renovation.
Kitchen
Instead of a new kitchen, targeted changes are often enough: pull-outs instead of deep base units, wall units mounted lower or with a lift system, a worktop you can also sit at, a hob with automatic shut-off. For wheelchair users the sink is given knee space underneath.
Access to the flat and balcony
The step in front of the front door and the high balcony threshold are typical Viennese obstacles. Small heights of up to about 5 cm can be bridged with a threshold wedge, larger ones with a ramp. When a ramp is enough and when a lift is needed is set out in the comparison on our page Stairlift Vienna.
The stairwell: the way home has to age with you
In a block of flats, your own flat ends at the front door. The way there leads through the stairwell – and there the resident does not decide alone. Many measures are nevertheless easy to implement and benefit all residents.
| Measure | Effect | Cost net | Consent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handrail on the second side | safe walking with both hands | €450–950 per flight | owners' association or landlord |
| High-contrast marking of step edges | steps easier to see | €15–35 per step | usually the property manager |
| Lighting with motion sensors, longer run-on time | no fumbling for the light switch | €1,500–4,500 per building | Owners' association |
| Seat on the landing | a rest where storeys are high | 250–600 € | fire safety: escape route kept clear |
| Ramp at the building entrance | access with rollator or pushchair | 1.800–9.000 € | owners; outside possibly pavement, building authority |
| Stairlift in the stairwell | reaching other storeys without walking | from €6,500 | owners, check escape route width |
| Retrofitting a lift | all storeys step-free | 150.000–400.000 € | resolution, building permit, see Installing a lift |
For comprehensive work on the stairwell, from plaster and painting to lighting, see Stairwell renovation Vienna.
Fitted today, safer tomorrow: practical aids without building work
Not everything needs building work. Many aids can be fitted in a few hours and bridge the time until the conversion – or are simply enough on their own. We fit them properly – fixed firmly into the wall, not with suction cups.
| Aid | What for | Cost net, fitted |
|---|---|---|
| Grab rails at shower, bath, toilet | something to hold when getting in and out, standing up | €120–380 per rail |
| Fold-down wall-mounted shower seat | showering while seated | 250–550 € |
| Bath lift or bath board | the bath stays, getting in becomes easier | 450–1.400 € |
| Raised toilet seat, fold-up support rail | easier to stand up | 180–650 € |
| Threshold wedge, transition profile | small heights up to about 5 cm | €60–250 per spot |
| Portable ramp | balcony, building entrance, temporary | 350–900 € |
| Motion sensor, night light | light without a switch | €80–250 per room |
| Additional handrail in the hallway | support on the way to the bathroom | 250–600 € |
| Low-force door closers, lever handles | opening doors without effort | €150–450 per door |
| Slip-resistant coating on tiles | immediately less risk of slipping | 25–45 €/m² |
| Preparation for a home emergency call system (socket, empty conduit) | emergency call at the bed and in the bathroom | 120–350 € |
Aids such as a rollator, care bed or bath lift are, depending on the situation, partly supported by health insurance or the Ministry of Social Affairs Service (Sozialministeriumservice). It is best to clarify what will be covered directly with your insurer before you buy.
Subsidies for age-friendly conversions in Vienna
The City of Vienna subsidises accessibility and disability-friendly measures in flats and residential buildings. Depending on the situation, there are also grants from the Sozialministeriumservice and tax options. Amounts and requirements change; that is why we do not quote fixed amounts here, but rather the points at which subsidies fail in practice.
- Application before the contract is awarded. Anyone who awards the contract first and applies afterwards usually gets nothing. We hold back the order confirmation until you have the go-ahead.
- Cost breakdown per measure. Funding bodies want to see what is accessibility work and what is general renovation. Our quotation separates the two from the start.
- Proof of need. Depending on the subsidy, a care allowance (Pflegegeld) decision, a disability pass or a medical certificate.
- Photos of the current condition. Before work starts, from every room affected – we take them during the site visit.
- Invoices and photos after completion. We supply both, compiled for the claim.
The points of contact are the City of Vienna (subsidy for accessibility measures), the Vienna Housing Fund (wohnfonds_wien) for renovations of residential buildings and the Sozialministeriumservice. You will find the current conditions and forms at the respective body.
How an age-friendly conversion with Skyline Bau works
| Step | What happens | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Enquiry | You write to us, ideally with photos and a floor plan | reply within 2 working days |
| 2. Site visit | We go through the flat with you and your relatives, measure and take photos | around 60 minutes |
| 3. Fixed price | quotation with itemised positions, accessibility measures listed separately for the subsidy | 5 working days |
| 4. Subsidy application | you submit it, we supply the cost breakdown, photos and sketch | depending on the body |
| 5. Execution | sequenced so that the bathroom and toilet are out of use for as short a time as possible | 1–5 weeks |
| 6. Handover | acceptance, instruction, documents for the subsidy claim, final clean | 1 day |
What you get from us
- Fixed price after the site visit, broken down by room and measure.
- Documents for the subsidy application: cost breakdown, photos, plan sketch.
- One contact person for all trades, including plumbing, electrics and lift technology through licensed partners.
- Consideration while you live there: low-dust working, tidied up every day, bathroom out of use for as short a time as possible.
- Acceptance report under ÖNORM B 2110 and a warranty for each trade.
When you do not need us
For a single grab rail or a shower seat, a plumber or handyman service is enough. We are worthwhile as soon as several measures come together, the bath has to come out, doors need widening or a complete cost breakdown is needed for the subsidy.
A clean home in later life: cleaning and household help from Bling Bling
The conversion makes sure the flat is safe. To keep it clean too, when bending down, cleaning windows and carrying laundry become harder, there is our partner company Bling Bling Premium Reinigung. It takes care of household cleaning – regularly, with a permanent team that knows the flat and your habits. For older people in particular this matters: the same faces instead of someone new every week.
| What | What for | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
| Regular household cleaning | weekly or fortnightly: floors, bathroom, kitchen, dusting | Private cleaning Vienna |
| Thorough flat cleaning | one-off or before a visit, after a hospital stay | Flat cleaning Vienna |
| Window cleaning | windows and box windows – no more ladders for you | Window cleaning Vienna |
| Final clean after the conversion | construction dust gone, flat immediately habitable | Post-construction cleaning Vienna |
| Household clearance | when moving to a smaller flat or into assisted living | Household clearance Vienna |
| Cleaning in retirement housing complexes | for operators and property managers | Retirement housing cleaning Vienna |
Frequently asked questions about age-friendly conversions in Vienna
What does an age-friendly conversion of a flat in Vienna cost?
Where do I start if my budget is limited?
What is the difference between age-friendly and accessible?
How wide does a door need to be for a rollator or wheelchair?
Can I stay in the flat during the conversion?
How long does an age-friendly conversion take?
Is there a subsidy in Vienna?
What does the funding body need from you?
May I fit a second handrail or a ramp in a block of flats?
Is a stairlift more sensible than moving?
Which aids can I have fitted straight away?
Do age-friendly bathrooms look like a hospital?
What does a level-access shower instead of the bath cost?
Is it worth preparing during an ordinary renovation?
Do you also do plumbing and electrics?
Do you also work in council housing and cooperative flats?
What about the way from the front entrance to the flat?
Who cleans when I can no longer manage it myself?
Who does the final clean after the conversion?
Who pays for aids such as a bath lift?
Related services
Safely converted – and kept clean.
Regular household cleaning with a permanent team, window cleaning without a ladder and a final clean after the conversion: all this is handled by our partner company Bling Bling Premium Reinigung. More at bling-bling.at.
Send enquiry
Enquire directly here — fixed-price quotation free of charge. Skyline Bau replies within 2 working days.
Staying at home for longer, staying safe at home. Write to us.
Write to us directly on WhatsApp — send photos. Reply within 2 working days.
Note: Skyline Bau is the brand name of the construction and renovation division of Bling Bling GmbH and not a separate legal entity. The sole contractual partner is Bling Bling GmbH. Bling Bling GmbH is a restricted building trade business under § 99 GewO (Austrian Trade Regulation Act) and not a licensed master builder (konzessionierter Baumeister). Under § 99 (5) GewO, the title „Baumeister“ (master builder) is reserved for businesses licensed under § 94 no. 5 GewO. Regulated trades — master builder services, structural engineering, gas and plumbing, electrical engineering — are carried out exclusively by authorised, licensed partner firms.