Can you choose who you live with in SDA?
By The Find My SDA Team · Updated 12 Aug 2026
Short answer
Yes, within limits. Choice and control is a core NDIS principle, so you have a real say in who you live with in a shared SDA home through vacancy matching, meet-and-greets and your support coordinator input. Your choice works within the vacancies actually available that match your funded design category and support needs.
Sharing a home only works well if the people in it get along, and the NDIS is built around your right to choose your own living arrangements, including who you live with. This guide explains how much say you actually get in a shared SDA home, how providers match vacancies to compatible residents, the difference between living alone and sharing, and what to do if a share arrangement stops working. If you are weighing up a family member moving in with you rather than a housemate, our guide on family living with you in SDA covers that separately.
Do you get a say in who you live with in SDA?
Choice and control is one of the core ideas behind the NDIS. It covers more than picking a provider or a support worker. It also covers where you live and, in a shared home, who you live with. The NDIS talks about this directly through Individualised Living Options, funding that helps you make choices about where you live, who you live with and how you want to be supported.
That said, choice in SDA works within real limits. You can only move into a home that suits your funded design category and building type, and in a shared home, any new resident has to genuinely work for the people already living there too. Your say is real, but it is exercised through the vacancies actually available, not an open-ended pick.
How does vacancy matching work in a shared SDA home?
When a room comes up in a shared home, a provider generally looks at more than whether you meet the design category. They consider how a new resident might fit with the household already there, including support needs, routines and personality. This matching step is why a vacancy that looks right on paper can still take some back and forth before it is confirmed.
Most providers arrange a chance for you to meet the household before anything is signed, sometimes called a meet-and-greet, and some offer a trial stay or short visit so you can get a feel for the home first. None of this guarantees a particular outcome, and the exact process varies between providers, but it gives you and the existing residents a genuine say before you commit.
Living alone vs sharing in SDA: what is the difference?
SDA homes come in different building types, such as houses, apartments, villas, duplexes and townhouses, and that shapes whether you live alone or share. SDA is often a home you share with a small number of other people, where you have your own private bedroom and often your own bathroom, while sharing the common living areas. Sometimes participants can live on their own, if that is the best option for their needs.
The NDIS SDA Design Standard requires at least one bedroom per resident, so sharing a home does not mean sharing a bedroom. Which option suits you depends on your funded category, your support needs and how you feel about company versus privacy. There is no single right answer, and it is worth being honest with yourself and your support coordinator about which setup you would actually be comfortable in.
What happens when a vacancy comes up in an existing share home?
If you already live in a shared SDA home and a housemate moves out, a new person is not simply placed into the empty room without any process. The provider generally works through who is likely to be a good fit, considers the current household needs, and arranges introductions before offering the vacancy.
As a current resident, it is reasonable to ask your provider how they plan to fill the vacancy and whether you and other residents will get a chance to meet the person first. Good vacancies do not always come up quickly, particularly for higher-need categories, so it is worth reading our guide on SDA waitlists if the room stays empty for a while.
What role do you, your family and your support coordinator play?
Your own voice should be the central one in any decision about who you live with, with support to express your preferences in whatever way works for you. Where you use supported decision-making, a trusted family member or guardian can help you weigh up a choice, but the aim is still your decision, not one made for you.
A support coordinator often plays a practical role too: raising your preferences with providers, asking the right questions about a household before you commit, and flagging concerns on your behalf if something about a proposed match does not sit right. If you are choosing a provider in the first place, our guide on how to choose an SDA provider covers the kind of questions worth asking about vacancy matching.
What if a share arrangement is not working?
Living with someone does not always work out, even with careful matching, and that is not a sign you have done anything wrong. The first step is usually to raise it with your provider directly, since they may be able to help resolve day-to-day friction or clarify expectations between housemates.
If talking to the provider does not help, or you do not feel comfortable raising it with them, your support coordinator can step in, and you can contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission if you have concerns about how a provider is handling things. In some cases, moving to a different vacancy is the right outcome, and that is a legitimate option, not a failure.
Common questions
Can I refuse to live with someone in a shared SDA home?
You have a genuine say in the matching process, including meeting a prospective housemate before anything is signed. If a proposed match does not feel right, raise it with your provider or support coordinator rather than feeling you have to accept it.
Do I get to meet future housemates before moving in?
Most providers arrange an introduction, often called a meet-and-greet, and some offer a short trial stay. Exactly how this works varies between providers, so it is worth asking about their process directly.
Can I choose to live alone in SDA instead of sharing?
Yes, if your funding and the available vacancies support it. Many SDA homes are shared with a small number of other residents, but sometimes participants can live on their own if that is the best option for their needs. Our guide on types of SDA housing explains the options.
Who decides who moves into a vacant room in my share home?
The provider manages the vacancy, but good practice involves considering how a new resident fits with the current household and arranging an introduction before anyone commits. As a current resident, you can ask your provider how they plan to fill the room.
What can I do if I do not get along with a housemate?
Start by raising it with your provider, since they may be able to help resolve the issue. If that does not work, your support coordinator can assist, and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission can look into concerns about how a provider has managed things.
This guide is general information only and is subject to change. It does not guarantee any particular living arrangement, vacancy or outcome. Matching processes vary between SDA providers, and decisions about your NDIS plan, funding and support arrangements are made by the NDIS and your support team. If you have concerns about a living arrangement, speak with your provider, your support coordinator, or contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.