Housing Assessment
Clinically reviewed by Angela Lander, AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist and Director of Occupational Therapy — last reviewed July 2026.
NDIS Housing Assessments across Melbourne — SDA & SIL Occupational Therapy Reports
NDIS housing assessments answer three questions. Is a participant's current home suitable for their needs? Could specialist housing supports improve their quality of life? And what evidence does the NDIS require to fund those supports? At Ability Rehab in Ivanhoe East, our occupational therapists carry out comprehensive housing assessments. In particular, those assessments support applications for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Independent Living (SIL), and other housing-related NDIS supports.
A housing assessment isn't just paperwork. Rather, it is a clinical evaluation. It looks at how a person's functional capacity, support needs, and goals intersect with the environment they live in. The NDIS then uses the resulting OT report to decide whether SDA, SIL or ILO funding is reasonable and necessary. The report also shapes the funding level. Our team has deep experience preparing the detailed, evidence-based reports that these decisions rely on.
What is a Housing Assessment?
A housing assessment is a clinical evaluation by an occupational therapist. It examines how well a person's living environment supports — or limits — their participation in daily life. Specifically, the OT considers the person's functional capacity and the activities they need to do safely. The OT also weighs the level of support they require and the physical features of the home.
Housing assessments most commonly support NDIS funding applications for Specialist Disability Accommodation or Supported Independent Living. However, they also inform home modifications and transitions out of hospital or rehabilitation. In addition, they guide decisions about where someone should live longer-term. The output is typically a detailed written report. It sets out the assessment findings, the OT's clinical recommendations, and the evidence behind them.
NDIS Housing Assessments — SDA, SIL and ILO Explained
The NDIS funds two distinct housing-related supports, and they often get confused. One is SDA, the dwelling itself. The other is SIL, the support package inside the dwelling. Because the NDIS funds and assesses them separately, they serve different purposes. A participant may need one, the other, or both.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
SDA is funding for the physical dwelling. In other words, it covers purpose-built or modified housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA pays the bricks-and-mortar cost of the housing, not the person living in it. However, only a small group of NDIS participants qualifies. Those participants have significant disability-related housing requirements.
SDA dwellings fall into four design categories, each with different physical specifications:
SDA Design Categories
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
SIL is funding for the support workers and overnight assistance a participant needs at home. Unlike SDA, SIL is not about the building. Instead, it pays for the human supports inside the home. SIL often pairs with SDA, though not always. It also works in standard rental or owned dwellings where the participant needs significant daily support.
Individualised Living Options (ILO)
ILO is NDIS funding that lets a participant design a living arrangement around their own preferences. For example, they might live with a host family, or share with a housemate who provides support. Others live alone with drop-in and on-call supports. Unlike SDA and SIL, ILO starts with exploring and designing the arrangement. It then funds the supports that make that arrangement work. Our OT housing assessments can support the ILO exploration and design stages. Specifically, they provide evidence of functional capacity and support needs.
When You Need an OT Housing Assessment
Generally, you will need an OT housing assessment for:
- An initial NDIS application for SDA funding
- Exploring or designing an Individualised Living Option (ILO)
- A change in SDA design category or transition between dwellings
- An NDIS application for SIL funding (either standalone or alongside SDA)
- A change in SIL support level (ratio, hours, or category of support)
- Transition from hospital, rehab, or aged care into community-based housing
- A plan review where housing needs have changed or escalated
Our OT team works closely with support coordinators, plan managers, and SDA and SIL providers. We also work with the participant's wider support network. As a result, the assessment captures the right evidence and the report meets NDIS requirements.
Our Housing Assessment Process
From initial referral through to a finalised report, the process generally follows these steps:
Meet Our Housing Assessment Team
Experienced members of our occupational therapy team deliver our housing assessment work. In particular, several focus on NDIS housing, complex disability, neurological rehabilitation, and assistive technology. These areas frequently intersect with SDA and SIL decisions. You can find full bios and AHPRA registration details for every clinician on our Our Clinicians page.
Our team values evidence-based, person-centred, and culturally safe practice. We ground every report in the participant's actual functional needs and living context. In other words, we never fall back on template language or generic recommendations.
Housing Assessments Across Melbourne
Our clinic sits in Ivanhoe East, and we deliver housing assessments anywhere across Melbourne. Site visits happen wherever the relevant property is. For example, a current home, a prospective SDA dwelling, a SIL property, a hospital, or a rehabilitation setting. Most of our work, however, concentrates across Melbourne's north-east, including:
Direct observation in the relevant environment is essential for housing assessments. The report needs to describe what the OT actually saw, not what someone reported second-hand. Therefore, we travel to wherever the assessment needs to happen.
Why Choose Ability Rehab for Housing Assessments?
Housing assessments shape major decisions. They affect where someone lives, what supports they receive, and how their NDIS plan comes together. Above all, the quality of the OT report directly affects what the NDIS funds. It also shapes how well the housing solution fits the participant's actual needs.
Clients, support coordinators, and SDA/SIL providers choose Ability Rehab because we offer:
- Experienced occupational therapists with deep NDIS housing reporting experience
- Coverage across SDA, SIL, transition planning, and complex housing decisions
- Evidence-based reports aligned with NDIS requirements and decision criteria
- Coordination with support coordinators, plan managers, SDA and SIL providers, and the participant's broader team
- Clear, accessible written reports that participants and their families can understand
- Registered NDIS provider experienced across NDIA-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed participants
Getting Started With a Housing Assessment
Getting started is straightforward. First, we have a phone or telehealth conversation. That call covers what's prompting the assessment, which funding pathway applies, and what timeline is involved. Housing assessments are often time-sensitive, especially for SDA. In particular, timing matters when the assessment ties to discharge planning, plan review dates, or dwelling availability.
For NDIS participants, we work directly with support coordinators and plan managers from the outset. We can also advise whether the assessment falls under capacity-building, capital, or core supports in the plan.
Ready to start a housing assessment, or want to talk through whether SDA or SIL is the right pathway?
Housing Assessment – Frequently Asked Questions
What is an NDIS housing assessment?
An NDIS housing assessment is a clinical evaluation by an occupational therapist. It examines how a person's functional capacity, support needs, and goals intersect with their living environment. The NDIS then uses the resulting OT report to decide whether housing-related supports are reasonable and necessary. Those supports are most commonly Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) or Supported Independent Living (SIL). The report also sets out the level required. In addition, the assessment includes in-person observation of the property, functional measures, and discussions with the participant's network.
What's the difference between SDA and SIL?
SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) funds the physical dwelling. In other words, it covers purpose-built or modified housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SIL (Supported Independent Living) funds the support workers and overnight assistance a participant needs to live safely. That applies in an SDA dwelling, a shared house, or their own home. In short, SDA pays for bricks and mortar and SIL pays for human supports. A participant might be eligible for one, the other, or both. The NDIS funds and assesses them separately.
Who is eligible for SDA funding?
Only a small group of NDIS participants qualifies for SDA. They have extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. Moreover, other housing options cannot reasonably meet those needs. To qualify, an application must demonstrate significant disability-related housing requirements backed by clinical evidence, including an OT housing assessment. The NDIS then weighs each application against several criteria. These include the participant's functional capacity, the impact of housing on their support costs, and the absence of alternatives. Our OT report, therefore, is the central piece of evidence for most SDA applications.
What are the SDA design categories?
SDA dwellings fall into four design categories. Improved Liveability suits sensory, intellectual, or cognitive impairment. Fully Accessible suits significant physical impairment, with wider doorways, accessible bathrooms and kitchens, and level access throughout. Robust uses strengthened fixtures and structural features, for participants whose behaviours of concern may affect themselves, others, or the property. High Physical Support is the highest specification. Specifically, it adds ceiling hoists, structural reinforcement, and emergency power for participants with very high physical support needs. The OT assessment then determines which category is clinically appropriate.
Do I need an OT to assess for SDA?
Yes. An OT housing assessment is the central piece of clinical evidence for an SDA application. The NDIS requires detailed clinical justification on three points. First, why standard housing cannot meet the participant's needs. Second, why SDA is necessary. Third, which design category fits. That justification must come from a qualified occupational therapist with experience in SDA reporting. SIL applications also typically require an OT report, though the focus there is support needs rather than the dwelling.
How long does the SDA application process take?
Timelines vary. Generally, we can complete the OT assessment and report within a few weeks of the first appointment. Complexity and the availability of supporting evidence both affect that. The NDIS review after submission is harder to predict. Straightforward applications can reach a decision within months. In contrast, complex cases involving review or appeal take significantly longer. An experienced support coordinator helps. So does an OT report that clearly meets NDIS evidence requirements.
What does a housing assessment report include?
A housing assessment report typically covers several areas. First, the participant's relevant background and current housing situation. Next, the results of standardised functional measures and observations from the in-person assessment. It then analyses the participant's support needs. Specifically, it justifies the recommended pathway — an SDA category or a SIL support level. Supporting evidence from other clinicians and the participant's network follows. Finally, the report gives clear recommendations aligned with NDIS criteria. We write every report to be clinically rigorous and accessible to participants, families, and NDIA decision-makers.
How do I get started with a housing assessment?
To get started, submit a referral through our Make a Referral page. Alternatively, call us on 0478 491 188. We'll then have an initial phone or telehealth conversation. That call covers what's prompting the assessment, the funding pathway and timeline, and the right clinician for the case. For NDIS participants, we work directly with support coordinators and plan managers from the start. Some assessments are time-sensitive — for example, when they tie to discharge planning or a plan review date. In those cases, please flag it on referral so we can prioritise accordingly.