Finding an NDIS home for someone you love

Start with what your family member wants

Before looking at homes, it helps to be clear on what matters most to the person who'll live there: being close to family, work or a day program, living with people of a similar age, a quiet house or a busy one, and the support they need through the day and overnight.

Their NDIS plan shapes which homes are possible, because homes with support are funded through home and living supports in the plan. If those aren't in the plan yet, their support coordinator or the NDIA is the place to start that conversation.

The kinds of homes you will see here

• SIL (supported independent living): support workers help with everyday tasks and building skills in a home shared with a few housemates. SIL funds the support, not the rent or food.
• SDA (specialist disability accommodation): homes built for people with very high support needs, in four design categories. SDA funds the home itself, and support is arranged separately.
• STA (short-term accommodation): a short stay away from home, giving the person a break and new experiences and giving family carers a rest.
• MTA (medium-term accommodation): somewhere to live for a while, usually up to 90 days, when a long-term home is confirmed but not ready yet.

Our guide to the types of homes explains each one in more detail, including who it usually suits.

Reading a listing

Each listing shows what the provider published: the type of home, the suburb, bedrooms, any places available, the SDA design category and, where the provider says, who the home suits. The date we last saw it tells you how current it is. Places come and go quickly, so ring or email the provider through the link on the listing to check before you plan a visit.

Visiting before you decide

A visit tells you far more than any listing. Ask the provider to arrange one at a time when housemates and support workers are there, so you can see how the home runs day to day, and take your family member if they'd like to come. Our checklist of questions to ask on a visit covers the provider, the support, housemates, the home and costs.

Costs and agreements

The NDIS funds support and, for SDA, the home itself, but residents pay their own rent, board, food and bills. In SDA the rent is set as a reasonable contribution: up to 25% of the Disability Support Pension and the Pension Supplement, plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

A SIL provider gives each resident a tenancy agreement and a service agreement. Read both before moving in, and ask what the rent and board cover and what happens to support if a housemate moves out.

Who can help

If your family member has home and living supports in their plan, they'll usually have a support coordinator too, who can help find homes, talk with providers and plan the move. You can also check that a provider is registered on the NDIS Commission's register.