Housing search and matching

NDIS Capacity Building support

Help to look for a suitable home, understand housing options and be matched with a place that fits the person’s needs and preferences.

The short answer

Housing search and matching helps you look for a suitable home, understand your options and be matched with a place that fits your needs and preferences.

About Housing search and matching

Finding a home that works for you can be a long and confusing process. Housing search support helps you work out what you need, such as location, accessibility, support and cost, and then find places that match. It can include exploring options, applying for properties and understanding what each type of housing offers.

There is a range of housing types, from private rentals and community housing to shared homes with support and specialised accessible housing. Each has different eligibility rules, waiting lists and costs. A housing support worker can explain how they work and where you might fit.

Suitable housing can be limited, particularly accessible housing in some areas, so patience and flexibility are often needed. Good support keeps your options open, helps you prepare applications and documents and stays in touch while you wait.

Who is this service for?

People who are looking for a suitable home and need help understanding their options and being matched with a place that fits.

What a typical session looks like

Housing search support usually begins with a conversation about what kind of home you want, where you want to live, who you might live with and what supports you need. A worker then helps you look at the options, such as rental properties, shared houses, specialist disability accommodation and social housing, and helps you understand how each works.

They may help with finding listings, arranging inspections, preparing applications and references, understanding tenancy agreements and organising the supports you need in the home. Matching is about fit, so the worker considers compatibility, location, accessibility and how the arrangement will work over time.

Who delivers this support

Support with housing search is provided by support coordinators, housing support workers and specialist housing providers. Some organisations focus on helping people with disability find suitable homes. It is worth choosing someone who knows the local market, understands accessible housing and takes time to find out what you really want.

How to choose a provider

• Ask how the provider finds and assesses housing options.
• Check whether they know the local rental and community housing market.
• Find out how they help with applications and paperwork.
• Ask how they will keep supporting you if the search takes time.
• Check how they involve you in decisions.

Questions to ask a provider

• How will you find out what kind of home and support I want?
• What housing options do you know about in my area, including accessible and shared homes?
• How will you help me with applications, inspections and paperwork?
• How will you help me work out whether a home and housemates are a good match?
• What support will I have after I move in?
• How do you help if things do not work out?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Rushing into a home that does not suit your needs because of time pressure.
• Not visiting the property or meeting housemates first.
• Overlooking accessibility features until after you move in.
• Not understanding the tenancy agreement and your rights.
• Not planning the support you need to settle in.

Getting started

1. Write down what matters most in a home, such as location, access and support.
2. Gather documents you may need for applications.
3. Talk to providers about the housing options in your area.
4. Agree a plan for searching and staying in touch.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

Finding a home is a major step, and it connects with support coordination, tenancy skills, home modifications and daily living supports. It is helpful to plan supports and housing together, since the right home can reduce the support you need, and the wrong one can create new problems. A move also involves practical things such as packing, changing addresses and setting up utilities.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Housing search and matching if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If Housing search and matching is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as Housing search and matching that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Housing (SDA & SIL) providers on the NDIS register

12,965 NDIS providers list housing (sda & sil) supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.

Providers listing housing (sda & sil)

• 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
• 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
• 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
• 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
• 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
• 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
• 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
• 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
• 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
• 121 Best Care - QLD; includes Calamvale, QLD
• 121 Supports Hunter - NSW; includes Hamilton, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Newcastle West, NSW
• 123 Community Support - NSW; includes Ermington, NSW

See all 12,965 housing (sda & sil) providers

Listings by state and territory

• New South Wales (4,358)
• Victoria (3,830)
• Queensland (2,292)
• South Australia (1,277)
• Western Australia (1,098)
• Northern Territory (303)
• Australian Capital Territory (284)
• Tasmania (216)

Suburbs with the most listings

• Brisbane, QLD (597)
• Melbourne, VIC (462)
• Sydney, NSW (354)
• Central Coast, NSW (274)
• Perth, WA (259)
• Adelaide, SA (244)
• Blacktown, NSW (229)
• Parramatta, NSW (207)
• Liverpool, NSW (200)
• Tarneit, VIC (184)
• Ipswich, QLD (171)
• Canberra, ACT (169)

Listings covering the most areas

• Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
• Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
• Huge Care - 188 areas
• Aligned Assist - 184 areas
• Amazing Procare Toowoomba - 171 areas
• Allabilities Cares - 170 areas
• Allied Horizon Disability Services - 154 areas
• Number 1 Care Provider - 134 areas

Checking credentials

• Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
• Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
• Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.

Related services

• Job coaching and workplace assistance
• Life transition planning and mentoring
• Music therapy and art therapy
• Occupational therapy

Frequently asked questions

What does housing search support involve?

Help exploring housing options, understanding what each offers, finding places that fit your needs and preferences and making applications.

Can it help me find accommodation with support?

It can help you understand options that include support, such as shared living or specialist housing, and how they compare. What is available varies by area.

How long can it take?

It varies a lot, because suitable housing can be limited. Ask providers how they will support you through the wait and keep your options under review.

How long does it take to find housing?

It varies a lot, and accessible housing can have long waits. Ask providers to be honest about what is realistic in your area.

Can this help me find housing with support?

It can help you understand options that include support and how to apply for them.

What if I cannot afford the rent?

A housing support worker or financial counsellor can talk to you about assistance and options that may be available.

What types of housing are available for people with disability?

Options include private rental, social and community housing, shared houses, supported accommodation and specialist disability accommodation for people with very high support needs. The right choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Can someone help me apply for social housing?

Yes. A support coordinator or housing worker can help you understand the process, gather documents and complete applications.

What is matching?

Matching means finding a home and housemates that suit you in terms of location, needs, interests and personality, so that the arrangement is likely to work well for everyone.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Housing search and matching?

If Housing search and matching is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a Housing search and matching provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

• NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint

Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory