A plain-language guide to SDA, SIL and what rent actually looks like.
Two different things, kept deliberately separate
NDIS housing funding can sound complicated, but it really comes down to two separate questions: where you live (the home itself) and who helps you day to day (your support). Excelsior provides the first. You choose the second.
SDA
Specialist Disability Accommodation
SDA funding pays for the physical home — its accessible design, build quality and special features. It is for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs who meet the NDIS SDA criteria.
- Funded through your NDIS plan, paid to the SDA provider (us)
- Covers the home itself, not your day-to-day support
- Comes in four design categories: Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust and High Physical Support
SIL
Supported Independent Living
SIL funding pays for the support workers who help with daily tasks — cooking, personal care, community access and more. It is delivered inside the home by a provider of your choice.
- Funded separately in your NDIS plan, paid to your SIL provider
- You choose your SIL provider — it does not have to be us or linked to us
- Can be combined with an SDA home, or used in a non-SDA rental
Because the home and the support are funded and delivered separately, you always keep choice and control over who supports you — even while living in an Excelsior home.
What rent looks like (RRC)
Whether or not your home is SDA-funded, every tenant pays a contribution towards their rent and living costs. We call this the Reasonable Rent Contribution (RRC). It is set using a standard NDIS formula, not by us, so it’s consistent and fair:
The RRC formula
25% of your Disability Support Pension (or equivalent base income) +
100% of any Commonwealth Rent Assistance you receive =
Your fortnightly Reasonable Rent ContributionRRC
This is the standard formula used across the NDIS — it is illustrative here, not a quote. Your RRC moves automatically with your pension, and we will calculate your exact figure with you before you sign anything. If your home is SDA-funded, the SDA price itself is paid separately by your NDIS plan, on top of your RRC.
Getting started
1 Tell your Support Coordinator
Let your LAC or Support Coordinator know you are looking for SDA or SIL housing as early as possible — funding approval can take time.
2 Get a housing needs assessment
An Occupational Therapist or your Support Coordinator assesses your support needs to confirm what SDA design category fits, if any.
3 Find a home
Browse our current vacancies or upcoming developments, and reach out — we will check eligibility and fit together.
4 Choose your supports
Pick the SIL or support provider that is right for you, separate from your choice of home.
Common Questions
It can take up to 12 months from start to finish for SDA funding to be approved, though this varies by participant. SIL approval is often faster. Starting the conversation with your Support Coordinator early makes the biggest difference.
No. We provide the housing only — you are always free to choose your own SIL or support provider, whether or not they have an existing relationship with us.
Yes — because it is calculated from your pension and rent assistance, your RRC adjusts automatically when those amounts change. We will always let you know in advance.
That’s completely normal — SDA eligibility depends on an individual assessment, not just a diagnosis. Your Support Coordinator or LAC can help arrange the right assessment, and we’re happy to talk through what we typically see.
Talk through your options
Every NDIS plan is different. Tell us a little about your situation and we will talk you through it — no pressure, no jargon.