Questions to Ask an SDA Provider Before You Move In
Before moving into SDA, ask the provider about the home's design category and enrolment, who else lives there, the rent and what it covers, which support providers work in the home, how repairs are handled, and how the agreement can end. Get the answers in writing, visit the home, and read the service agreement before you sign.
These questions come from what the NDIA and the NDIS Commission say SDA providers must do. A good provider will be glad you asked. Take the list to a visit, or send it ahead by email.
About the Home
Check the home is what your plan funds, and that it works for the person day to day.
- Is the home enrolled with the NDIA as SDA? Which design category and building type?
- If it's a new build, has it been certified against the SDA Design Standard?
- Does it match the design category, building type and location in the plan?
- Will our equipment fit: wheelchair, hoist, shower chair, bed?
- Can we see the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and outdoor areas we'd actually use?
- What are the fire safety features and evacuation procedures?
About the People Who Live There
In a shared home, housemates matter as much as the building.
- How many residents live here, and can we meet them or their families?
- How do you fill vacancies, and how are current residents' views taken into account?
- How are disagreements between housemates handled?
- Can the person have a partner, friend or family member live with them?
Looking for an SDA Home?
We'll connect you with a registered SDA provider who may have a home that suits.
About Rent and Costs
The rent can't be more than the NDIS cap unless you've chosen a higher value home.
- What is the rent, and how did you work it out against the maximum reasonable rent contribution?
- Is there a bond? Is board offered, and what does it cover?
- Which bills does the resident pay: electricity, internet, phone?
- How much notice do you give before increasing the rent?
About Support in the Home
Your SDA provider gives you the home, not the support.
- Which SIL or support providers currently work in the home?
- Can we bring our own support provider, or change later?
- If you also provide support, will we have separate agreements for the home and the support?
- How do you work with the support provider on shared living and safety?
A red flag
If you're told you can only keep the home if you use a particular support provider, ask for that in writing. The NDIS Practice Standards say your housing rights, including security of tenure, have to be upheld whatever you decide about other supports.
About the Agreement
The service agreement, or tenancy or residency agreement, is what protects the resident.
- Which agreement will we sign, and which state tenancy law applies?
- When does it start, how long does it run, and how is it extended?
- How can either of us end it, and how much notice do you have to give?
- How do we ask for repairs, and how quickly are they done?
- Who is your contact person, and how do we raise a complaint?
- Can we have a copy in an easier format, or explained by someone we trust?
Questions People Ask
Should I visit an SDA home before agreeing to move?
Yes. The NDIA advises checking that the home meets your needs before committing to a service agreement.
Can someone help me ask these questions?
Yes. A support coordinator, local area coordinator, family member or friend can come with you or ask on your behalf.
Can I talk to more than one SDA provider?
Yes. The NDIA says you can talk to as many SDA providers as you want to find the right one.
Keep Reading
- SDA providersWhat an SDA provider is, the rules they must follow, how they differ from your SIL provider, and what to check before you choose a registered SDA provider.
- Moving into SDA: agreements and rightsWhat to sort out before moving into SDA: the service agreement, what it must cover, notice to leave, tenancy law, recording your provider and your rights.
- SDA rent and costsWhat SDA residents pay: the reasonable rent contribution, how the cap is worked out, board, bills, sharing a bedroom and paying extra for a higher value home.
- Finding an SDA vacancyHow to find an SDA vacancy that matches your NDIS plan: the SDA Finder, support coordinators, new builds, what to check first, and what to do while you wait.
- SDA vs SILSDA vs SIL explained: SDA is the specialist home, SIL pays for support workers in it.
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