SDA Assessment for Existing Dwellings and Group Homes

The owner of an older group home or villa asks whether the building can be Specialist Disability Accommodation and at what design category. Gary Finn has designed 63 group homes and SDA dwellings across NSW. Sydney Access Consultants is an independent accredited SDA assessor and access consultant. We certify the building against the SDA Design Standard; enrolment and funding are decided by the NDIA.

Three assessments an existing dwelling can need

A gap assessment answers how far the building is from a target design category under SDA Design Standard Edition 1.1. It is ordered before buying, before design and before quoting works. The output is an item-by-item gap list with photos and a priority order.

Re-certification or design certification for works is ordered after the scope is set and drawings exist. The output is a design-stage certificate.

As-built or final certification is ordered after works are complete, on site. The output is the final certificate for enrolment.

See SDA certification for the general design versus as-built process.

Gary's experience: 63 group homes and SDA dwellings

Gary has designed 63 group homes and SDA dwellings. That experience covers how group homes were typically built (corridor widths, bathroom layouts, ceiling structure, door hardware, site falls) and where older homes typically miss the SDA Design Standard. Work has included Sydney south and south-west, the Hills, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South Coast, Blue Mountains and Albury/Lavington regions. No client names or project values are stated here.

Where older group homes usually fall short of the SDA Design Standard

Common gaps, confirmed against SDA Design Standard Edition 1.1, include doorways and corridors (clear widths and circulation at doors), bathrooms (hobless showers, circulation, wall reinforcement for future grab rails), ceiling structure for hoists (High Physical Support), kitchens (bench heights and knee clearance where the category requires it), external access and parking (site falls and path of travel to the entry), and Robust-category items (impact resistance and secure spaces) where Robust is the target. See the category pages for Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust and High Physical Support.

How design categories apply to an existing building

Changing use or class can trigger NCC and council approvals separately from SDA certification. See SDA building types and NCC classification. Apartment conversions are covered at Class 2 apartment HPS SDA conversion NSW.

The right order: gap assessment, scope, design certification, works, as-built

Do the gap assessment before quoting builders. Keep evidence (photos, product data, test results) during works because the as-built inspection relies on it. For a gap assessment send existing plans (or a measured survey), recent photos of every room, any previous SDA or access reports, the target design category and the address.

Funding, enrolment and the NDIA rules

Sydney Access Consultants certifies the building against the SDA Design Standard. Enrolment and funding are the NDIA's decision. Current NDIS SDA Pricing Arrangements and SDA Rules are on the NDIS website. Edition 2.0 of the SDA Design Standard is under review; Edition 1.1 is still current. See SDA Design Standard review and SDA funding intact NDIS October 2026.

NSW and Queensland

Sydney Access Consultants assesses existing dwellings in both NSW and Queensland.

FAQs

Can an existing house or group home be certified to an SDA design category?
Often, yes, but only if it meets every requirement of the SDA Design Standard (currently Edition 1.1) for that design category once works are finished. Start with a gap assessment. Final certification happens after the works, on site. Enrolment and funding are decided by the NDIA, not the assessor.

What is an SDA gap assessment?
An SDA gap assessment compares an existing dwelling with the SDA Design Standard for a target design category and lists every gap, with photos and a priority order. It is the step before design and builder quotes.

Do existing SDA dwellings need re-certifying after renovations?
If works change the features the SDA certificate relied on, or you are moving the dwelling to a different design category, plan for a new certification against the current SDA Design Standard. Talk to an accredited SDA assessor before works start.

Send the address, plans and photos for a gap assessment. Call Sydney Access Consultants on (02) 9586 3111.

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