Disability Housing in Perth and WA: SDA, SIL, Social Housing and Private Rental

Disability housing in Perth falls into six main paths: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Independent Living (SIL), medium-term accommodation (MTA), public and community housing, private rental with home modifications, and short-term accommodation for respite. Only SDA is NDIS-funded housing. The rest depend on your plan, your support needs and your income.

Most people start by searching for “SDA” and then find out it is only one of the options. This guide shows where each option fits, who it suits and what to do first. It is written for NDIS participants, families and support coordinators in Western Australia.

Disability housing options in WA at a glance

Rules and funding decisions change, so use this table as a starting point and confirm details with the NDIS housing pages or your support coordinator.

Is SDA the right option for you?

SDA pays for the physical home only. It does not pay for the people who support you. The NDIA decides who is eligible, and only a small group of participants qualify. The NDIA generally looks for extreme functional impairment or very high support needs that cannot be met in an ordinary home, and it checks other housing solutions first. SDA homes come in different design categories, including high physical support SDA housing for people with the highest physical needs.

If you think you might qualify, start with an occupational therapist (OT) who has SDA experience. Our SDA eligibility assessment checklist shows what the assessment looks at, and our step-by-step SDA applications guide covers the process after that. If you are still learning what SDA is, read our SDA guide for 2026 or our SDA and NDIS information page. The current NDIS SDA rules are explained in a separate guide. For how the NDIS pays for the home, see SDA design categories and funding.

If SDA is not for you, that is common and it does not close the door on good housing. The next sections cover the alternatives.

What if I do not qualify for SDA?

Most NDIS participants do not get SDA funding. You still have real options:

• Home modifications. The NDIS can fund modifications such as ramps, bathroom changes or widened doorways when they are reasonable, necessary and value for money. See the NDIS page on home modifications. If you rent, you will usually need your landlord’s agreement before work starts.
• SIL in an ordinary home. SIL is not tied to SDA. You can receive SIL support while living in a standard rental or a home you own, if SIL is in your plan.
• Support coordination. A support coordinator can search for housing, speak to landlords and housing providers, and line up supports for your move. If housing is a goal, ask about adding support coordination at your next plan review.
• Mainstream housing supports. Public housing, community housing and other state programs are open to people with disabilities whether or not they have NDIS funding.

Public and community housing in WA

In Western Australia, public housing is run by the Department of Communities. Community housing is run by not-for-profit organisations. Both are rental options with eligibility rules that include income and housing needs.

• Start with a Housing Options Assessment. The Department of Communities asks you to complete a Housing Options Assessment at a Communities Housing office before you apply for public housing.
• One application can cover both. Applying for public housing also counts as applying for community housing, which can improve your chances of being housed sooner.
• Keep your details current. Your eligibility is reviewed regularly, so tell the Department when your circumstances change.
• Check the income limits. WA publishes income limits for social housing, including a separate limit that applies when a household member has a disability. These figures change, so check the current numbers on the Department of Communities public housing page.

Community Disability Housing Program

WA also runs the Community Disability Housing Program for people with disabilities who need accessible housing. Referrals can come from the person, a disability support provider, an advocate, a guardian or a WA Government agency. Eligibility rules and contact details are on the WA Government program page, so check them there before you send an application.

Private rental with disability

Many people with disabilities live well in a standard rental with the right support. It gives you the widest choice of suburb and the shortest wait, although accessible properties are hard to find.

What to check when you inspect a rental:

• Step-free entry, door widths and bathroom access
• Whether the landlord will agree to modifications, in writing, and who restores the property at the end of the lease
• Distance to transport, shops, your doctor and your supports
• Space for equipment, such as a hoist, charging area or overnight support worker

Your OT can write a report that sets out which modifications you need and why. That report supports both an NDIS funding request and your conversation with the landlord.

Medium-term, short-term and respite stays

Sometimes you need somewhere to stay while the long-term answer is sorted out.

• Medium-term accommodation (MTA) can fund a stay of up to 90 days. The NDIS generally expects a confirmed long-term housing solution to be in place, and it commonly does not fund MTA while you are only waiting for social or community housing. Read the NDIS page on MTA and check with your planner.
• Short-term accommodation (STA) and respite give you or your career a planned break. Our guides cover NDIS respite and STA in Perth, the STA guidelines and how to apply for respite accommodation.

SDA and SIL: how they work together

People often mix these up. SDA is the home. SIL is the support delivered inside it. You can have one without the other, or both together, and they are assessed and funded separately. Our guide to SIL and SDA in Australia explains the difference in more detail.

How to choose: a simple way to decide

1. Write down your support needs. How much help do you need each day, and at what times?
2. Talk to your OT. Ask whether your needs point to SDA, modifications or a standard home.
3. Check your NDIS plan. Look for SIL, home modifications, support coordination and STA.
4. Apply in parallel. You can join the public and community housing list while you explore SDA or private rental.
5. Visit homes. Check access, layout, location and the people you would live with, if the home is shared. Our post on shared vs individual SDA housing can help with that decision, and our guide on how to choose an SDA provider lists the questions to ask.
6. Plan the move. Use our moving-in checklist once you have a home.

Where to look in Perth

Location matters as much as the type of housing. We list SDA homes across the Perth metro area, including Midland, Hilbert, Gosnells, Maddington and Nollamara. See our homes for current properties, read our guide on the best suburbs in Hilbert for SDA housing, or learn how to find SDA vacancies in Perth. To learn who provides SDA here, see SDA housing and providers in WA, and for what a good home looks like, read about SDA living standards in WA and accessible SDA homes.

Frequently asked questions

What disability housing options are available in Perth?

The main options are SDA, SIL in your own home, medium-term accommodation, public and community housing, private rental with modifications, and short-term accommodation for respite. Which one fits depends on your support needs, your NDIS plan and your income.

Does the NDIS pay for housing?

The NDIS pays for housing only through SDA, and only for participants who meet the eligibility criteria. It does not generally fund buying or renting an ordinary home, but it can fund supports such as SIL, support coordination and home modifications.

Can I get disability housing if I am not on the NDIS?

Yes. Public housing, community housing and the Community Disability Housing Program are open to people with disabilities who meet the eligibility rules, whether or not they have an NDIS plan.

How long is the wait for disability housing in WA?

Wait times vary widely by option, suburb and level of need, and we cannot give a reliable figure. Ask the Department of Communities and your housing providers for current estimates, and apply to more than one option at once.

What is the difference between SDA and SIL?

SDA is a specially designed home. SIL is the paid support you receive with daily tasks. They are funded separately, and you can have either one or both.

Who can help me find disability housing in Perth?

A support coordinator, an occupational therapist and the Department of Communities are good starting points. You can also contact us to ask about our current SDA homes and vacancies.

Talk to SDA Homes WA

If you think SDA could suit you or someone you support, we can talk through your situation and show you what is available. Contact us or browse our homes. To see how the process works from enquiry to move-in, visit how it works, or read about our services. For general questions, see our FAQ.

This article is general information, not legal, financial or NDIS advice. Funding rules, income limits and program details change. Check current information with the NDIS, the WA Department of Communities or your support coordinator before making decisions.