The Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) residency agreement is designed to provide greater protections for residents.
Victorian renters use Residential rental agreements to rent a standard home.
The table below outlines the main differences between an SDA residency agreement and a Residential rental agreement.
| SDA residency agreement |
Residential rental agreement |
| The resident does not pay a bond. |
A resident may be asked to pay a bond. A bond acts as a security that the resident will carry out their duties in the agreement.
The bond must be returned at the end of the rental agreement unless the resident:
- does not keep the home reasonably clean, or
- causes damage to the home.
To learn more, go to Bond.
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Rent can be increased every 6 months. Go to Rental payments in SDA.
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Rent can be increased every 12 months. Go to Rent increases.
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The resident does not pay for damage to the property if the damage is because of:
- fair wear and tear
- their disability
- any equipment they need to help them with their disability.
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The resident will have to pay for any damage they cause, except for fair wear and tear.
The SDA provider can claim part or all the bond to cover the costs to repair any damage and can also make a claim at VCAT.
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The resident can end the agreement at any time by giving the provider a Notice of intention to vacate. Go to Notices to end an SDA residency.
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If it is a fixed-term agreement, the resident cannot end the agreement before the agreement end date, unless by agreement with the provider or on certain grounds. The provider may charge the resident ‘lease-break fees’. Go to Renter giving notice.
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The provider cannot ask a resident to leave the property without first finding them suitable temporary accommodation. Find Notice of temporary relocation on Notices to end an SDA residency.
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The provider can serve a Notice to vacate for the reasons outlined under Victorian rental laws. Go to Giving notice to a renter. |