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Making your home more accessible

If you’re an older person or a person with disability, you may be able to modify your rented or owned home to make it more accessible, secure and safe.

Home modifications can help you safely access and move around your home and make your daily tasks easier.

They include fixtures, like grab rails in showers and access ramps, and structural changes, like wider doorways and changes to a bathroom’s layout.

If you’re a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant, you may be eligible for NDIS funding for home modifications.

If you were severely injured in a motor vehicle accident, you may be eligible for funding from National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ).

If you’re an older person or a person with disability who rents their home, you may be eligible for help with minor modifications.

Signs your home may need to be modified

Your home may benefit from modifications if you:

  • Would like to move around your home more easily and safely
  • Seek greater ease with daily tasks, such as taking a shower or cooking a meal
  • Wish to fully use all the rooms in your home
  • Require adjustments to your home so your carers can support you safely and effectively.

Getting a professional assessment

To make sure you get a home modification that works for you, you can consult an occupational therapist (OT) who is qualified to recommend home modifications.

They’ll talk to you about your support needs and work with you to find the right options for you and your home.

An OT assessment may be arranged by NDIS or NIISQ, if you’re a participant.

If you’re living in or moving into public or community housing, your housing provider may arrange an OT assessment for you.

If you’re renting

If you rent a private property, you can attach fixtures and make structural changes to your home that are necessary for your safety, security or accessibility.

This includes if you are renting a unit in a retirement village or a room in a residential service (e.g. private hostel and boarding house).

You are usually responsible for the cost of the changes, including removal, but the property owner may agree to contribute.

You may be eligible for financial help:

How it works

You can attach a fixture or make a structural change only with the property owner or manager’s approval. The approval must:

  • be in writing
  • describe the nature of the fixture or change
  • include any terms of the approval.

For example, if you attach a fixture, you may be required to remove it when your lease ends and pay to repair any damage the removal causes.

If you arrange the property changes, you are responsible for ensuring they are legal and safe.

Request for approval

To make alterations to your rental, you must fill in and submit a Request for approval to attach fixtures or make structural changes (Form 23).

If your request for approval is denied—unreasonably, in your opinion— you can get help to resolve your dispute.

More information

For more information, read the Residential Tenancies Authority’s web page about fixtures and structural changes.

If you’re a homeowner

If you’re an older person or a person with disability who owns their home, you may be eligible for help with minor modifications.

If you’re an NDIS participant who owns their home, you may qualify for NDIS funding for home modifications to make your home more suitable for your needs.

If you’re an NIISQ participant, you may qualify for NIISQ funding for home modifications.

If you live in public or community housing

If you live in or are moving into public or community housing, you may be eligible for home modifications to better suit your needs if you:

  • have a disability, health condition, or are older
  • provide care for a household member with a disability, health condition, or who is older
  • would benefit from support with daily activities, such as using your bath or accessing high cupboards.

To help, an occupational therapist may visit the home and assess how your health, safety and independence needs can be met.

Your housing provider will then make reasonable adjustments to your home to make it more accessible, or they’ll offer you a more suitable property.

If you’re an NDIS participant

If you’re an NDIS participant living in public or community housing and you need modifications, the NDIS might be able to fund them.

Who to contact

If you live in public housing and need help to make your home safer or easier to move around in, contact your Housing Service Centre.

If you’re a community housing tenant who needs their home modified, contact your housing provider.

More information

Last updated:
25 June 2025
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