SDA Rent and Costs: What Residents Pay
SDA residents pay a reasonable rent contribution to their SDA provider, plus day-to-day costs like electricity. The most a provider can charge is capped: 25% of the Disability Support Pension, 25% of the Pension Supplement, and any Commonwealth Rent Assistance the resident gets. The NDIS pays the provider the rest of the cost of the home through SDA funding.
What Is the Reasonable Rent Contribution?
The rent an SDA resident pays to their SDA provider. Paying rent is treated as an ordinary cost of living, the same as for anyone else.
You agree the amount with your provider. It has to be written in your service agreement, or in a separate rental agreement, and it can't be more than the maximum reasonable rent contribution (MRRC) set in the SDA pricing arrangements.
| Part | Share counted |
|---|---|
| Disability Support Pension | 25% |
| Pension Supplement | 25% |
| Commonwealth Rent Assistance, if you get it | 100% |
The NDIA publishes the dollar amounts as a fortnightly figure for a single person and for each member of a couple. They change when the Disability Support Pension changes, in March and September, so check the current SDA pricing arrangements for today's figure.
What Else Do SDA Residents Pay?
Their own day-to-day living costs.
- Electricity, gas, internet and phone
- Food and groceries
- Board, if the provider offers it and you agree to it
- Personal items and activities
If you agree to pay board, the service agreement should say what it covers, how much it is and when it's paid. The SDA pricing arrangements also publish a recommended maximum board amount.
Looking for an SDA Home?
We'll connect you with a registered SDA provider who may have a home that suits.
Can a Provider Charge More Than the Cap?
Only if you choose a home of a higher value than your plan funds, and the provider follows the NDIA's rules.
Some providers will let you live in a higher value design category or building type than your plan allows, for extra rent. The extra amount has to be in your service agreement. The provider has to tell the NDIA in writing within 5 business days and give evidence from a qualified property valuer that the extra rent is reasonable.
Check before you sign
If a provider asks for more than the maximum reasonable rent contribution and you haven't chosen a higher value home, ask them to explain in writing. You can talk to your support coordinator, or contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
What Changes If You Share a Bedroom?
The rent cap and the SDA amount both change. The pricing arrangements set out each situation.
| Who you share with | Your rent cap |
|---|---|
| Another SDA-eligible participant | The member of a couple rate |
| Someone who isn't SDA-eligible, such as a partner | The member of a couple rate |
| Your child or financial dependant | The same as living in the room on your own |
Anyone you live with who isn't eligible for SDA pays their own costs, including rent, which you agree with the provider.
Does Victoria Have Different Rules?
Victorian SDA residents usually have an SDA residency agreement under the state's renting laws, with some extra protections.
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, residents with an SDA residency agreement don't pay a bond, rent can be increased every six months, and the resident can end the agreement at any time by giving a notice of intention to vacate. Our guide to moving into SDA covers agreements in more detail.
Questions People Ask
How much is rent in SDA?
It's agreed with your provider and capped at 25% of the Disability Support Pension, 25% of the Pension Supplement and any Commonwealth Rent Assistance you get. The NDIA publishes the current dollar cap in the SDA pricing arrangements.
Do I get Commonwealth Rent Assistance in SDA?
If you're eligible for it through Services Australia, it's counted in full in the maximum reasonable rent contribution. Check your eligibility with Services Australia.
Do I pay a bond for SDA?
It depends on your agreement and state law. In Victoria, residents with an SDA residency agreement don't pay a bond. Elsewhere, the service agreement should say whether a bond is needed and how it's managed.
Does the NDIS pay my rent?
No. The NDIS pays the SDA provider for the specialist features and cost of the home. Your rent contribution and bills are yours to pay.
Keep Reading
- How SDA funding worksHow NDIS SDA funding works: which budget it sits in, how the NDIA sets the amount, what the SDA pricing arrangements cover and how providers get paid.
- 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.
- What is SDA?What specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is, who it's for, the four design categories, building types, what it doesn't cover and what residents pay.
- 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.
- 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.
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