Part 1: How Rent Works in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Understanding Reasonable Rent Contributions
If you have Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding in your NDIS plan, that funding is paid directly to your SDA landlord (also called SDA provider) by the NDIS.
You will usually have to pay rent too. The amount you pay to your SDA landlord is called a Reasonable Rent Contribution (RRC). This factsheet is about the rent and household expenses you pay in SDA.
SDA rent is usually less than what you would pay in the private rental market, and often similar to what you would pay in social or community housing.
Sections discussed below:
How much rent do I have to pay?
There is a maximum rent amount you can be asked to pay in SDA.
The most your SDA landlord can ask you to pay is equal to:
- 25% of the Disability Support Pension (DSP), including the Pension Supplement
PLUS
- 100% of Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)
In April 2024, this is $463.75 per fortnight.
Your SDA landlord can ask you to pay the maximum rent, even if you don’t get the Disability Support Pension or Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
In some cases, your SDA landlord might also choose to charge you less than the maximum rent.
The rent you pay in SDA is set by the laws about SDA. It isn’t related to the things you own (‘assets’) or other money you might get or have access to.
If I live with other people, do they have to pay rent too?
In many cases, you can choose to share your SDA home with family, friends or housemates - more info here. If you share your home with other people, the amount they have to pay to the SDA landlord depends on a few things.
Sharing with your children
If you choose to share your SDA home with your child or children who are under 18, the SDA landlord can't ask for extra rent.
Sharing with your partner, adult family members or friends
If you choose to share your home with another adult who doesn't have SDA funding, you must let your SDA landlord know and it will be included in your Tenancy Agreement. Any other adults who live with you can be charged rent by your SDA landlord. The amount of rent they have to pay isn't capped like your rent, but has to be in line with the tenancy laws in your state or territory.
Sharing your bedroom with a partner
If you choose to share your bedroom in your SDA home with your partner, they can be asked by your landlord to pay rent, but the maximum rent you can be asked to pay will come down.
If you share your bedroom with your partner, the maximum rent you pay is equal to 25% of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) for one member of a couple, including the Pension Supplement, plus PLUS 100% of Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) for one member of a couple. In April 2024, this is $353.70 per fortnight.
If you want to share your SDA bedroom with someone, you need to let the NDIS know. The NDIS needs to make sure you are not being made to share if you don't want to. The NDIS also wants to make sure that your support needs can be met in the bedroom if you share. Your SDA provider and any other SDA tenants you share your home with have to agree too - more info here.
Do I have to pay rent weekly, fortnightly or monthly?
How you make your rent payments to your SDA landlord and when are things you agree with your landlord in your Tenancy Agreement. A Tenancy Agreement can also be called a Lease Agreement or Residential Service Agreement – more info here.
Now that you've read 'Part 1: How Rent Works in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA),' read these two other related pages to gain a deeper understanding of Reasonable Rent Contributions:
Part 2: Board and other payments to your SDA Provider