Living alone and sharing a home each have real strengths and real trade-offs. There is no single right answer — it depends on your needs, your funding and the people around you.
Living alone
- Total control over your space, routines and visitors.
- Support worker time is not split with anyone else.
- Higher unit cost — SIL rosters and dwelling costs are not shared.
- Less spontaneous social contact under your own roof.
Sharing with housemates
- Company and shared routines can be a positive part of the day.
- Efficient overnight support — one active-night worker can cover a household.
- You need to negotiate shared spaces, visitors and household rules.
- Matching matters — good housemate fit takes time to get right.
How to decide
Try both models in short-term or respite settings if you can. Talk to your Support Coordinator about how each option would work with your plan and the properties available in your area.
Reviewed 2026-07-16 by SDA Listings editorial. SDA Listings is an independent property-listing and connection platform. It is not the NDIA, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or an NDIS funding decision-maker. Property information is supplied by advertisers and should be independently verified. SDA Listings does not determine participant eligibility, approve SDA funding, enrol SDA dwellings or guarantee property suitability, availability or occupancy.
Related pages
Living alone or living with housemates
Trade-offs between living alone and living with housemates.
What is Specialist Disability Accommodation?
Plain-English introduction to SDA and how it fits in the NDIS.
Who may be eligible for SDA?
General overview of SDA eligibility considerations.
SDA design categories explained
Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, High Physical Support, Robust.