Plan around usable facilities
List where the household will sleep, wash, prepare food and leave the house at each stage. Include children, pets, visitors and anyone who works from home. If a necessary route crosses the work area, or essential facilities are unavailable, discuss different staging or temporary accommodation early rather than improvising after the start.
Stay-or-move discussion aid
| Daily need | If it stays available | If it becomes unavailable |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | Confirm safe access and any planned interruptions. | Arrange a suitable alternative before work begins. |
| Food preparation | Keep the temporary setup clear of construction activity. | Plan meals, storage and the household cost of alternatives. |
| Sleep and work | Identify rooms separated from noise and the work zone. | Discuss whether the household should be elsewhere for a stage. |
| Entry and escape | Agree usable routes that remain clear. | Resolve access before treating occupancy as workable. |
| Unexpected conditions | Know who communicates changes and when. | Have a fallback arrangement and a decision-maker. |
A weekly household plan
- Confirm which rooms and routes will be available.
- Ask about expected service interruptions and noisy work.
- Agree where deliveries, tools and household belongings go.
- Keep children and pets away from the agreed work area.
- Record who to contact when the plan changes.
A single bathroom changes the decision
If the only shower and toilet are both part of the renovation, access to a spare bedroom does not make the home fully usable. Discuss the periods without those facilities and the practicality of alternatives. The right plan may differ between stages of the same job.
What if older materials may contain asbestos?
Raise the concern before disturbance. WorkSafe provides homeowner guidance on assessment and safe management. Do not sample or disturb suspected material yourself to keep the programme moving. The work plan and occupancy decision need to follow appropriate advice.
Further reading
Guidance checked 30 September 2026. Confirm the requirements and product information for your own project.