How to make these stairs safer

This is for our PPOR that we are about to do a cosmetic reno to and will be converted to an IP or sold in about 4 years. I'm looking for a way to add a balustrade to these stairs, because more than one person has walked out our front door and nearly gone straight over the edge. The house is also in dire need of some street appeal so I'd like to kill two birds with one stone.

The big problem here is that to build a balustrade 865mm high (as per regulations) would mean blocking the window, even if we bolted it to the landing instead of the wall. I think this might also be a fire safety issue as it would be partially blocking the escape route out the window. Also I don't think it would look very good.

The best solution I've come up with so far is to build a small deck covering these stairs and extending towards the edge of the house. I think this would look great, make use of the dead space in front of the window and improve street appeal. But I'm wary of overcapitalising and of spending a fairly large part of our budget. What's the cheapest way to build a deck that would be about 800mm off the ground at it's highest part?

Does anyone have any other ideas that would look good and be functional?

 

As the landing is less than 1mt high it doesnt require a handrail.
But i see your point
As @wylie said run the stairs down under the window instead
Or spend big and render the entire house, its
And the downpipe doesnt exactly go to storm water (slip hazard)

 

Cheap option would be to buy a decent planter box
Put it at the rhs of the landing at ground level
Buy an advanced Muraya (mock orange) or two to form a hedge well above the landing height.
People shouldnt fall over it as it forms a barrier
Looks better for street appeal

 

Get a tree in a large pot. Put it next to the landing.

 

We had a similar thing, but was not as high. I just put two pot plants in against the edge. It didn't block any view from the door and diverted people down the stairs. Also breaks up the brick and concrete.

 

Im still practicing with photoshop...

 

Huh, that's an interesting idea. Do you think it would matter that they'd be parallel to the front of the property?

 

Hehe, excellent photoshopping! I think the plants are the most promising idea. If only I could work out how to keep them alive, unlike the rest of our garden

 

A carpenter or handyman can knock up a timber balustrade in under a day easy enough. Wont cost a lot.

 

This was my idea too - just get a nice plant to put there, and you're done! Less than $100 - bargain!

 

Crazy design there, what were they thinking, cheap.

Being ur ppor for the next 4 years (perhaps more/less) what would u prefer?

Personally I like ur deck idea, make it more appealing etc, assuming u then have to go down the other stairs to the right make the stairs flow.

If you have fill/rubble on the block somewhere you need to get rid of u could also brick up, throw it in there cover it with decking or concrete, hang a shade sail over it.