Housing options for people with disability
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Housing should meet your needs, enable you to live more independently, support your health and wellbeing, and assist you to participate in all aspects of life.
In Queensland, most housing support is provided by the state government and community organisations. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ) may fund support that helps you live independently.
If your situation is urgent
If you are homeless, at risk of homelessness, unsafe at home or about to lose your home, reach out for help.
Emergency and temporary housing – more information
Exploring your options
To find a housing option that suits you, think about how your home supports your lifestyle.
While there are different housing options, they can sometimes be hard to access and might take time to become available. Consider all your options, ask questions and get the right advice to make the best choice for your situation.
Your housing needs might change over time and a different option could suit you better in the future.
Stories from Queenslanders with disability
Watch 4 Queenslanders with disability talk about their different experiences with housing and how they found a home to suit their needs. Their stories demonstrate the Housing principles for inclusive communities of rights, choice, control and inclusion.
Having a home is more than just having a roof over your head.
It’s a place to thrive and is the foundation for good health, for employment and education and inclusion in the community.
My name is Nathan,
I live in Toowoomba in specialist disability accommodation with my wife and my nine-month old son.
SDA is specialist disability accommodation, it's basically part funded by the NDIS.
There's a UN charter on the rights of people with disabilities, and that actually says that you have the right to choose who you want to live with, where you want to live, and how you want to live.
I'm 31 years old with cerebral palsy, and I live in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in the Department of Housing, in their accessible units.
It’s a place for me not to be dependent on my parents and enable me to move out and live on my own.
It just gives me my own space to be with my dog, be able to study, run a not-for-profit and do what I want to do.
Got my own independence and freedom now and I guess I haven't really looked back.
So, I'm Paul, I'm part of a housing cooperative run by people with disabilities.
It is a unique model, I think we're the only ones in Queensland.
So, part of it because I wanted to move out of home and to see if I could manage it.
And I have.
So, yeah.
I have a one-bedroom public housing unit that has been specially built for people who are wheelchair users.
I'm very happy,
I really love the position of the unit, the accessibility features just make my day-to-day life so much easier.
It's wonderful to be able to do things independently.
Find out more how we’re helping Queenslanders with disability.
My Housing Options website and toolkit
My Housing Options is a practical toolkit that contains information, videos, activities, and downloadable resources to guide people as they are thinking about:
- where they want to live
- the support they may need
- how to take steps toward their housing goals.
My Housing Options was co-designed by Queenslanders with Disability Network, people with disability, and their supporters.
Renting
What is it?
Houses, apartments, or townhouses available that anyone can rent through a real estate agency or direct with a private owner.
Who is it for?
People who want to live independently, either by themselves or with others.
What are the benefits?
You have options for where to live and who to live with.
It can be readily available.
Things to consider
Renting in the private sector can be expensive.
Long term security can vary.
More affordable accommodation might include houses in less desirable locations, such as along a main road, in areas with limited transport options, or properties that may be in poorer condition.
Help with renting
You may be eligible for help getting into a rental home or making your rental home work better for you.
Help finding a rental home
The RentConnect service can help you with finding and applying for a rental home that meets your needs.
Help with renting costs
If you receive an income support payment from the Australian Government, you may also be eligible for Rent Assistance.
If you need help with other costs of renting, you may be eligible for help from the Queensland Government to pay bond, temporarily subsidise your rent, or catch up if you’ve fallen behind.
Making your rental home more accessible
As a renter, you may be able to modify your rental home to make your home more accessible. You may also be eligible for financial help with modifications.
Sometimes even the smallest changes can make a big difference.
Information is also available about your right to keep an assistance animal (e.g. guide dog or hearing dog) in a rental home.
Your rights as a renter
In Queensland, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) provides information about your rights and responsibilities as a renter.
It also offers a free tenancy dispute resolution service to help resolve tenancy issues quickly and without the need for legal action.
Social housing—public and community housing
What is it?
Social housing includes both public housing and community housing. To ensure people in the highest need can access social housing, there are eligibility criteria that must be met.
Social housing can be owned by the government, a community housing provider or sometimes leased from the private market.
There are different types of social housing including apartments, duplexes, townhouses, or a house.
Who is it for?
It is for eligible people in the highest need for housing who find it hard to access or afford to rent a home in the private rental market.
You pay rent to the housing provider at a low or subsidised cost, usually calculated as a percentage of your household income.
What are the benefits?
For most people in social housing, it is more affordable than renting privately.
Once you get a public or community housing home you will be supported as long as you continue to be eligible and have a need for social housing.
Things to consider
It is important to know that there is one application process for both public and community housing in Queensland.
Public and community housing is offered to people with the highest need first. If you’re eligible for public or community housing, you may receive a housing offer when a suitable property becomes available.
If you have a disability, your application will cover what you need to live independently in your home. Your housing provider will take your needs into account when offering you a home.
The housing provider makes offers of housing as a vacancy arises in one of your suburb choices. This is different to private rental or shared living where you can look at all advertised properties and decide from the options available.
In most cases, tenants in public housing can keep pets.
More information
Applying for public or community housing
Buying and owning a home
What is it?
Buying a home is when you pay for your own property to live in.
Who is it for?
People who can save enough money for a home loan deposit and have a regular income to make home loan repayments.
Benefits
You can modify and adapt your home to meet your needs.
Owning a home means you can stay there for as long as you want.
Homes may increase in value over time, which could result in a financial gain if you choose to sell it in the future.
Things to consider
If you want to buy a home, you may be eligible for financial help.
It is expensive to buy a home.
You will have regular bills such as rates, insurance, and maintenance /repair costs.
Your home loan payments may vary over time in line with changes to interest rates.
Financial help to buy a home
If you can’t get a home loan from a bank or other private lender, you may qualify for a low-deposit home loan from the Queensland Government.
Explore other financial help for home buyers and homeowners.
Making your home more accessible
As a homeowner, you may be able to modify your home to make your home more accessible. You may also be eligible for financial help with modifications.
Accessibility standards for new homes
If the home you’re buying is a newly built, it must comply with a minimum accessibility standard for new homes.
Sharing a home
What is it?
Sharing a home means living in the same house with others. This could be friends, family or other people you have chosen to live with.
You share common areas like:
- the kitchen
- the living room
- the bathroom.
Who is it for?
People who want to share support, rent or bills like electricity.
What are the benefits?
- It can be more affordable as costs are shared.
- You can share support with your housemates if you have similar needs.
- It is often more readily available than other housing options.
- Shared living accommodation may be offered fully furnished.
- Living with others can provide companionship and social connection.
- You can choose to live with friends.
Things to consider
Whether you own or rent, sharing your home could give you practical help to live at home, companionship or the security of having someone else around.
You could, for example:
- live in your own home and a person without disability moves in to help you with everyday tasks in return for free or reduced rent.
- live in the home of a person without disability and contribute towards the rent, saving both of you money and enabling you to live more independently.
You need to get along with your housemates and agree on how to share the space. This includes things like cleaning, cooking and sharing expenses.
Sometimes you may need to compromise on privacy or how things are done in the house.
There can be rules in private rental and social housing tenancy agreements that prevent sharing options. If you want to share your private rental or social home, contact your tenancy manager/landlord.
Living with others can affect the amount of Rent Assistance you get from the Australian Government.
More information
A good place to start your search is the share accommodation website, Flatmates.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
What is it?
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
If you are a participant of the NDIS and think you are eligible for SDA, talk to your NDIS support coordinator.
If you have approved SDA as part of your NDIS plan, you will be eligible for one of the four design categories below:
- improved liveability
- robust
- fully accessible
- high physical support.
Your support coordinator will be able to help you find a suitable property. Current SDA vacancies are advertised for NDIS participants on the SDA Finder.
SDA has accessible features to help participants live more independently and allow other supports to be delivered better or more safely.
Who is it for?
People who need housing with special design features due to their disability, making the home more accessible for them.
What are the benefits?
The SDA will include accessible features to help you live more independently and make it easier and safer to provide other supports.
Things to consider
You must apply and be approved for SDA through the NDIS. No other providers can determine whether you are eligible for or will be approved for SDA. Only a small number of people are eligible for SDA. This is because most people can live in general housing even if they need some modifications or assistive technology to do so.
You don’t have to live with someone you have not chosen to live with. The SDA provider or your NDIS support provider should not choose who you live with, without involving you in this decision.
In some cases, the NDIA can provide adjustments to your SDA funding if you want to share your SDA home with people who are not SDA eligible.
More information
NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation
Other housing options
While these types of accommodation may not be ideal for people with disability, they may still be an option in some circumstances.
If you are currently living in one of these types of accommodation and it doesn’t meet your needs, you may have options to live somewhere else.
Residential services
Residential services are a type of rooming accommodation. This means you usually share a kitchen, bathroom, dining room and common rooms. You may have a room to yourself or share your room with others. Some residential services offer meals and personal care.
Residential services are privately owned and operated. In Queensland, they must be registered and accredited with the government. They must comply with standards including cleanliness, safety and security.
Residential services - more information.
Aged care homes
Aged care homes are for people who can no longer live in their own home and need help with everyday tasks or healthcare. They are mainly for people aged 65 years or older.
In exceptional circumstances, a younger person with a disability, dementia or other special care needs may be living in an aged care home.
In Australia, aged care is managed by the Australian Government.
Other help to find housing
It can be difficult to find housing that meets your needs and fits your budget, but help is available.
Housing Service Centres
Your Housing Service Centre can help you explore your options and find housing that works for you. They can also check your eligibility for a range of housing help.
It's a difficult time to find housing.
It may take time, but it's good to have a plan.
The Queensland Government offers a range of products and services to Queenslanders with disability, who need help to find the right home.
You can contact your local Housing Service Centre.
Our staff can help you decide whether renting, public housing or community housing is best for you.
We also offer financial support to eligible customers,
Home modifications may be available if you live in public and community housing.
An occupational therapists can visit your home and talk about the modifications we can offer.
Contact your nearest Housing Service Centre for help with housing.
Useful websites
- Housing Hub—Australia’s largest accessible housing platform, helping people with disability find suitable housing and access NDIS ‘home and living’ supports.
- People with Disability Australia—provides a range of services that support people with disability to secure housing that best suits their needs.
- Ask Izzy is a directory of support services for people in need. It covers many types of help including help with meals and everyday tasks. You can find services in your area from the government and community organisations.
Housing discrimination
If you believe you’re experiencing discrimination due to your disability, first try to resolve the matter directly with that person or organisation.
If you can’t resolve it:
- Renters can get support to resolve rental disputes.
- If your housing provider is accredited or regulated (that is, if it is required to meet certain standards) there should be a formal process for making a complaint.
- A complaint about a real estate agent (except for rental property management) can be made to the Office of Fair Trading.
Or you can contact the Queensland Human Rights Commission.