Consumer Affairs Victoria

What is specialist disability accommodation (SDA)?

SDA is housing designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. It gives people with a disability the ability to live independently.

In July 2019, SDA residential agreements became part of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. We now regulate these agreements under Victorian renting laws.

If your SDA has been regazetted by the DFFH, the rules and duties set out in the Disability Act 2006 still apply to existing residential statements.

Regazettal of SDA

To ensure SDA residents’ rights remain protected, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) sought regazettal under the Disability Act 2006 of Victorian group homes from 1 January 2020.

This short-term arrangement means existing residential statements for residents remain valid after 1 January 2020. You still must comply with the rules and duties set out in the Disability Act 2006.

Contact the DFFH for more information about regazettals of homes.

Providers

People who own or manage SDA, including:

  • private rental providers (landlords)
  • family members of people with a disability
  • organisations (not-for-profit or for-profit)

To register as a provider or enrol housing as SDA, visit the SDA registration and enrolment page on the NDIS website.

Residents

NDIS participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs who receive NDIS funding to live in SDA.

For SDA eligibility criteria, see rules 3.4 to 3.8 of the NDIS (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Rules 2016.

Support people

People who help residents understand their rights and responsibilities in SDA, such as:

  • carers
  • advocates
  • guardians
  • family members or friends
  • Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers.

Contact us

For more information about specialist disability accommodation, call 1300 40 43 19. The line is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday - except for public holidays.

Calling us costs the same as a local call. Extra charges may apply if you are calling from overseas, on a mobile or payphone. For other options including the National Relay Service, see Contact us.

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