Tenancy and accommodation assistance
NDIS Capacity Building support
Help to find, apply for and keep a rental or other accommodation, including understanding a lease and dealing with a landlord.
The short answer
Tenancy and accommodation assistance helps you find, apply for and keep a rental or other accommodation, including understanding a lease and dealing with a landlord.
About Tenancy and accommodation assistance
Finding and keeping a home involves paperwork, deadlines and rules that are not always easy to follow. Tenancy assistance helps with searching for properties, preparing applications, understanding a lease, arranging bond and moving, and communicating with a landlord or agent.
It can also help if problems arise, such as repairs that are not being done, a rent increase or a notice. Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant helps you deal with these issues early, before they become bigger.
Tenancy laws differ between states and territories, and free tenancy advice services in each state can explain your rights. A support worker or housing worker can help you contact them and work through what to do. Acting early is almost always better than waiting.
Who is this service for?
People who need help finding, applying for and keeping a rental or other accommodation.
What a typical session looks like
This support helps you find, secure and keep a place to live. A worker might help you search listings, prepare rental applications, gather documents and references, attend inspections and understand what you are signing. They may also help you speak with landlords or agents and understand your rights.
Once you have a home, they can help with practical matters such as setting up utilities, arranging repairs and understanding your responsibilities as a tenant. If something goes wrong, they can help you work out what to do and who to talk to, such as a tenants' advice service.
Who delivers this support
Tenancy support is provided by housing workers, support coordinators, community legal centres and tenants' advocacy services. Ask about their knowledge of local rental rules and whether they are independent of landlords and agents. It is best to work with someone who explains your rights clearly and helps you speak for yourself.
How to choose a provider
- Ask whether the provider knows local tenancy rules and services.
- Find out how they help with applications and paperwork.
- Check whether they can help you communicate with landlords and agents.
- Ask how they help if there is a problem with your tenancy.
- Ask how they will support you to keep your home over time.
Questions to ask a provider
- How do you help with searching for and applying for rentals?
- How do you explain my rights and responsibilities as a tenant?
- Can you speak to landlords or agents with me?
- What help is available if there is a dispute or a repair problem?
- How do you help with setting up utilities and moving in?
- Who can I contact if I am at risk of losing my home?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing a lease without understanding it.
- Not documenting the condition of the property at the start.
- Letting rent or repair problems build up.
- Not knowing where to get advice if a dispute occurs.
- Not asking about permission for modifications before moving in.
Getting started
- Gather documents such as identification and proof of income.
- Talk to providers about the kind of home you want.
- Read any lease carefully and ask questions before signing.
- Save contact details for local tenancy advice services.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Tenancy assistance links with housing search, tenancy skills and support coordination. It also relates to home modifications, since rental homes may need changes to become accessible. It helps to think about how long you want to stay, and to plan supports that make it easier to keep the tenancy going.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Tenancy and accommodation assistance 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 Tenancy and accommodation assistance 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 Tenancy and accommodation assistance 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
- Tenancy skills and sustainment
- Therapy assistants
- Transition to further education
- Vision and orientation & mobility
Frequently asked questions
What does tenancy assistance involve?
Help to find and apply for a place, understand a lease and communicate with a landlord or agent.
Can it help if I am at risk of losing my home?
It can help you understand your rights and options and connect you with services. Act early if you are worried about a tenancy.
Where else can I get tenancy advice?
Community legal centres and tenants' advice services offer free advice about tenancy rights in each state and territory.
Where can I get free tenancy advice?
Each state and territory has tenants' advice services that offer free information.
What if I get a notice from my landlord?
Seek advice quickly. Time limits often apply.
Can a worker come to inspections with me?
Often yes, if you would like the support. Ask your provider, and tell the agent in advance.
Where can I get free advice about tenancy problems?
Each state has tenants' advice services and community legal centres that offer free advice. A worker can help you find them.
Can a support worker attend an inspection with me?
Yes, they can help you view the property and ask questions, though you make the decision.
What should I do if my home needs repairs?
Tell the landlord or agent in writing, keep a copy and follow up. If it is not fixed, seek advice about your options.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Tenancy and accommodation assistance?
If Tenancy and accommodation assistance 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 Tenancy and accommodation assistance 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.