SIL Home Suitability Checklist for NDIS Participants
A SIL home can look right on a first visit and still be the wrong fit for everyday life. The most useful SIL home suitability checklist looks beyond the bedroom, furniture and suburb. It asks whether you can feel safe, respected and supported to build the life you want there.
Supported Independent Living, often called SIL, funds the support you need with daily tasks in a shared home or individual setting. It does not automatically pay for rent, groceries or the home itself. Because your home, housemates and support arrangements all affect your experience, taking time to assess suitability can prevent stress later.
Start with your own goals and support needs
A suitable home begins with your needs, not with an available vacancy. Think about what a good day looks like for you. You may need help with personal care, cooking, medication, appointments, building routines or managing changes to your mental health. You may also want more opportunities to make choices independently, connect with your community or develop everyday skills.
Be clear about the times you need support. Some people need active assistance throughout the day, while others mostly need prompts, overnight support or someone nearby if a concern arises. A home can have kind staff and a pleasant environment but still not be suitable if the roster does not match your assessed support needs.
If your needs are changing, speak openly about that too. For example, a participant may currently manage most tasks independently but need a home that can respond if psychosocial symptoms increase. Another person may be working towards doing more for themselves and need staff who will encourage skill building rather than taking over.
SIL home suitability checklist: the essential questions
Use the following checklist during a viewing, planning meeting or conversation with a provider. It is helpful to write down the answers and compare more than one option where possible.
Is the home physically safe and accessible?
Look at how easily you can move through the property, not just whether there is a ramp at the front door. Consider entrances, hallways, bathrooms, kitchen benches, flooring, lighting and outdoor areas. If you use mobility equipment, check whether it fits comfortably and whether transfer spaces meet your needs.
Ask how maintenance issues are reported and resolved. Find out whether safety features such as smoke alarms, secure entry, accessible bathrooms or emergency procedures are in place. If you have sensory needs, notice noise levels, lighting and the amount of activity in shared spaces.
A newer or larger house is not automatically better. The right property is one that supports your safety, privacy and ability to take part in daily life.
Does the support roster suit your routine?
Ask who provides support during mornings, evenings, weekends and overnight. It is reasonable to ask whether there is active overnight support, sleepover support or on-call assistance, depending on what you require. You should also understand what happens if a staff member is unwell or unavailable.
Discuss how support workers will assist with daily living while respecting your choices. This includes personal care, meal preparation, transport planning, medication support and attending appointments. A person-centred provider should listen to your preferences about routines, culture, communication and the way support is delivered.
It can help to ask how the team supports independence. Good SIL is not about doing everything for you. It is about providing the right amount of help so you can safely develop confidence and control over your day.
Are the housemates compatible?
Sharing a home works best when people have compatible lifestyles, support needs and expectations. You do not need identical interests, but you should feel comfortable around one another and have a fair opportunity to use shared spaces.
Ask about the number of residents, their general routines and how household decisions are made. Find out how the provider responds if there is conflict, noise concerns, different visitors’ preferences or disagreements about cleaning and food. Privacy matters too. Check whether you can spend time alone in your room or another quiet area when you need space.
Compatibility should never be assumed based only on disability type, age or support ratio. It is about how people live together in practice.
Can you stay connected to your community?
Location affects independence more than many people realise. Consider how close the home is to family, friends, work, education, medical appointments, shops, public transport and activities you enjoy. For participants in Perth and across Western Australia, travel distances can be significant, so it is worth planning for regular journeys rather than only occasional outings.
Ask how transport is managed and whether staff can support you to access the community according to your NDIS plan. If cultural connection, faith, sporting activities or family events are important to you, discuss these from the start. A suitable home should support your life beyond its front door.
Are costs and responsibilities clear?
Before agreeing to move in, make sure you understand what you will pay and what is covered by your NDIS funding. This may include rent, utilities, food, internet, household items and any agreed contributions. Your provider should explain these costs clearly and give you time to ask questions.
You should also receive information about your tenancy agreement, house rules, notice periods and complaints process. It is a good sign when a provider explains your rights in plain language, including how to raise a concern without worrying that your support will be affected.
What to ask the provider at a home visit
A home visit is your chance to see how the service works, not simply inspect the property. Ask to meet the people who may support you, where practical, and notice whether they speak directly to you and invite your views.
Useful questions include:
- How will my individual support plan be developed and reviewed?
- What training and experience do support workers have for my specific needs?
- How do you communicate with my family, guardian, support coordinator or allied health team when I want you to?
- What is the process if I am unhappy with a support worker, housemate arrangement or aspect of the home?
- Can I visit more than once, including at a time that reflects the usual household routine?
The answers should be specific. Statements such as “we can help with that” are reassuring, but it is fair to ask how that support will happen, who will provide it and how changes will be managed.
Include the people who know you well
Choosing a SIL home is a personal decision, but you do not have to make it alone. A family member, carer, guardian, support coordinator or allied health professional may help you identify questions you have not considered. Occupational therapists can offer useful advice about accessibility, daily living tasks and equipment. For people with psychosocial disability, recovery coaches and mental health supports may help consider routines, privacy and strategies that promote wellbeing.
Their input should strengthen your voice, not replace it. You are the person who will live in the home, so your comfort, goals and preferences need to lead the decision.
Give yourself permission to take your time
Availability can create pressure, especially when accommodation is urgently needed. However, agreeing to a home before you understand the living arrangements can create avoidable difficulties. If it is safe to do so, ask for a second visit, review documents carefully and talk through any concerns before signing an agreement.
At Arise Services, we believe accommodation support should feel respectful, clear and genuinely tailored to the person. The right SIL home is not simply a place where support is available. It is a place where you can make everyday choices, feel secure and keep moving towards the life you want.