Minor home modifications
NDIS Capital support
Smaller changes to a home that make it easier and safer to use, such as fitting handrails, ramps or adjusting fixtures.
The short answer
Minor home modifications are smaller changes that make your home easier and safer to use, such as fitting handrails, ramps or adjusting fixtures.
About Minor home modifications
You do not always need major building work to make a home suit you. Small changes can have a large effect: rails beside steps and in bathrooms, a short ramp at the door, lever taps, non-slip flooring, lowering shelves or adjusting a shower. They improve safety and make daily tasks easier.
A short assessment by an occupational therapist is a good starting point. They can suggest the right changes and where to place them, and advise on how to use them safely. Licensed tradespeople or specialist modification providers then carry out the work.
Ask for a written quote, check that the person doing the work is suitably qualified and licensed, and confirm what is included. If you rent, ask the owner or agent before making changes, because approval is usually required.
Who is this service for?
People who need smaller changes to make their home easier and safer to use, such as handrails, ramps or adjusted fixtures.
What a typical session looks like
Minor home modifications are small changes that make a home safer and easier to use, such as grab rails, ramps for a step, handheld showers, lever taps, better lighting or non-slip surfaces. A therapist or installer visits, looks at how you move around the home, and recommends the changes that will make the biggest difference.
The work is usually done in a short time by a licensed tradesperson or installer. After installation, it is worth checking that everything works as you expected and that you feel confident using it. Keeping any warranty or installation paperwork will help if there are problems later.
Who delivers this support
An occupational therapist can assess your needs and recommend modifications, and a builder, handyperson or specialist installer carries out the work. Some providers offer both assessment and installation. Ask whether the installer is licensed and insured, has experience with accessible fittings and will check the work with you at the end.
How to choose a provider
- Check that tradespeople are licensed and insured.
- Ask for a written quote that describes the work.
- Ask how long the job will take and whether it will disrupt your home.
- Check that the changes meet relevant standards.
- Ask about warranty and who to contact if something is not right.
Questions to ask a provider
- Can an occupational therapist assess how I use my home before we choose changes?
- Is the installer licensed and insured, and have they done similar work?
- What will the work involve, and how long will it disrupt my home?
- Is there a warranty, and who do I contact if something goes wrong?
- If I rent, do I need permission, and who arranges it?
- Would a different solution work better or last longer?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Installing rails or ramps in the wrong place because no one checked how you move.
- Using a tradesperson without the right licence or insurance.
- Not getting the landlord's permission when renting.
- Ignoring how your needs might change.
- Not testing the modification once it is installed.
Getting started
- Identify where you have difficulty in your home.
- Ask an occupational therapist for advice.
- Get a written quote from a qualified provider.
- If you rent, get permission from the owner before work begins.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Minor modifications are often part of falls prevention and independence at home, and they work alongside equipment and personal care. They are quicker and less disruptive than major building work. If your needs are likely to increase, it is worth thinking about whether a bigger change might make sense in the long run.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Minor home modifications 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
Capital supports cover higher-cost items such as home modifications, vehicle modifications and specialist housing. They are generally included only where the NDIS has decided they are reasonable and necessary, often based on assessments and quotes from qualified professionals. Ask your planner what evidence is needed for Minor home modifications. 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
Higher-cost items such as home modifications, vehicle modifications and specialist housing are usually priced by quote rather than by the hour. Ask for itemised quotes so that you can see exactly what Minor home modifications includes, and expect to compare more than one. 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.
Home modifications providers on the NDIS register
2,815 NDIS providers list home modifications supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing home modifications
- 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
- 1 NSW Building Solutions - NSW; includes Annandale, NSW
- 1 Roof Therapy and Assessment - NSW; includes Caringbah, NSW
- 120 Group - VIC; includes Cheltenham, VIC
- 1care Services - NSW; includes Schofields, NSW
- 1square1 - NSW; includes Baulkham Hills, NSW
- 1st Care Community - QLD; includes Acacia Ridge, QLD
- 1st for Care Pty Ltd - NSW; includes Bass Hill, NSW; Greystanes, NSW
- 21st Century Driving School - NSW; includes Campsie, NSW
- 23k - VIC; includes Hampton, VIC
- 24 Hour In Home Care - NSW; includes Bass Hill, NSW
- 24 Hour Property Services - VIC; includes Keilor, VIC
See all 2,815 home modifications providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (1,265)
- Victoria (714)
- Queensland (464)
- South Australia (226)
- Western Australia (191)
- Tasmania (76)
- Australian Capital Territory (66)
- Northern Territory (35)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (119)
- Sydney, NSW (118)
- Melbourne, VIC (94)
- Central Coast, NSW (85)
- Liverpool, NSW (65)
- Parramatta, NSW (64)
- Blacktown, NSW (58)
- Bankstown, NSW (54)
- Campbelltown, NSW (50)
- Penrith, NSW (49)
- Perth, WA (48)
- Wollongong, NSW (46)
Listings covering the most areas
- Simply You Plan Management - 324 areas
- Number 1 Care Provider - 134 areas
- Elevate Disability & Aged Care - 117 areas
- Right at Home Perth Northern Suburbs & Perth West Coast - 108 areas
- United for Care - 103 areas
- Hercules Lifting Solutions - 101 areas
- Full Life Occupational Therapy - 91 areas
- Clover Leaf Sanctuary - 87 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
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a minor home modification?
Smaller jobs that do not involve major structural work, for example fitting handrails, a short ramp, a lever tap or adjusting a shower.
Do I need an assessment?
A short assessment by an occupational therapist is common, and helps make sure the change suits you. Some simple jobs may need less.
Who does the work?
Licensed tradespeople or specialist modification providers. Ask for a written quote and check that the person is qualified for the work.
Do I need permission to modify a rental home?
You generally need the owner's agreement. Ask early.
Can I take modifications with me when I move?
Some items, such as removable rails, can be moved. Ask the installer what is possible.
Are handrails enough to prevent falls?
They help, but a falls-prevention assessment looks at lighting, flooring, footwear and more.
What is the difference between minor and complex modifications?
Minor modifications are small, low-risk changes such as rails, small ramps and taps. Complex modifications involve significant structural work, such as widening doors or rebuilding a bathroom.
Do I need a therapist to recommend modifications?
For anything beyond simple fixtures it is a good idea, because a therapist can make sure the change suits your body, your home and your routine.
Can I take modifications with me if I move?
Some can be removed and reinstalled, and others are fixed to the building. Ask the installer about what is possible before the work starts.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Minor home modifications?
If Minor home modifications 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 Minor home modifications 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
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.