The information on this page applies to SDA providers. If you are an SDA resident, go to Changes to the law - information for residents.
The Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Act 2023 (the Amendment Act) makes changes to the Disability Act 2006, Residential Tenancies Act 1997, and other Acts to strengthen rights of people with disability in Victoria.
The Amendment Act became law on 23 May 2023 and changes to the Residential Tenancies Act started on 1 July 2024. From 1 July, the Residential Tenancies Act regulates all SDA agreements.
All SDA providers must follow the rules and duties in the Residential Tenancies Act.
What are the changes
The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will:
- change the meaning of ‘SDA provider’ to include more disability accommodation and support providers
- change the meaning of ‘SDA resident’ to include more people with disability
- create a new ‘SDA dwelling’ term to include more disability accommodation and support arrangements in Part 12A of the Residential Tenancies Act.
What the changes mean for people with disability
The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will:
- give more people with disability access to stronger residential rights and protections
- offer people living in specialist disability accommodation a choice about the type of residential agreement
- mean more people living in specialist disability accommodation can be visited by Community Visitors.
To learn more about how the changes affect your organisation, go to Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.
Key actions for SDA providers from 1 July
If you are an SDA provider prior to 1 July 2024, you may have to complete some key actions. Your key actions depend on the type of residential agreement you had in place on 1 July 2024.
Find out what your key actions are:
For more information on key actions required to be taken by SDA providers, go to Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.
For providers of group homes under the Disability Act, find out about your key actions.
There are 3 types of residential agreements available for SDA:
Information statements
Each type of agreement has a matching information statement that explains it and outlines the rights and responsibilities for both you and your resident.
You must give the resident an agreement and its matching information statement at the same time.
If you do not give a resident the required information statement, they may be able to end the agreement.
Download:
Easy Read
To download Easy Read versions of the agreements and information statements, go to Resources for SDA providers.
Support person
The resident may choose a support person to help them understand the agreement and their rights and responsibilities. A support person can be a family member, trusted friend, advocate, carer, guardian or a daily independent living support provider.
A daily independent living support provider supports SDA residents with daily tasks and helps them to develop skills to live as independently as possible.
For more information, go to What you need to know as a support person.