What are NDIS Home Modifications?

Home modifications are changes you make to a home to keep residents safe and independent. For instance, adding grab rails or upgrading slippery floors makes spaces safer for people living with disabilities.

Since 2013, the NDIS has funded home modifications, assistive technology, consumables, and other supports for NDIS participants. As a result, 80% of long-term participants enjoy more choice and control in their daily lives.

In 2026, funding for NDIS home modifications will evolve. This article explores the new NDIS funding criteria, home modifications that are still funded, and ways to increase your chances of approval.

Key Takeaways

• Home modifications must clearly improve safety and independence
  
• Successful applications require OT reports, quotes, and compliance documentation
  
• Durable, cost-effective solutions win over temporary fixes
  
• Anti-slip floor coatings are commonly funded as safety adaptations

The New Focus for NDIS Home Modifications

To ensure that funded support actually benefits participants, NDIS home modification requests now undergo a more thorough check. Each recommendation must:

• Provide clear functional benefits
  
• Align with NDIS goals
  
• Give long-term value for money
  
• Comply with Australian safety standards

How to Meet the NDIS Funding Criteria

Under the NDIS Act, recommended supports must clearly link to the participant's disability and offer good value for money. 

If you're an OT preparing a home modification report, it helps to take a more structured, evidence-based approach so your recommendations are clear, well-justified, and easy for the NDIS to assess. 

Here are key points to highlight:

1. Functional Outcomes

Show how a recommendation will directly support a participant's daily living or goals. NDIS planners want to see links between functional barriers and the proposed modification.

2. Fall Prevention

Slips and falls are a major cause of injury, especially in high-risk areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and ramps. Highlight how the proposed modifications will significantly reduce the risk of falls.

3. Product Performance and Compliance

Ensure that recommended modifications to flooring, ramps, and wet-area surfaces are compliant with strict Australian standards, particularly AS 4586 and AS 4663 for slip resistance.

4. Long-Term Value for Money

The NDIS now favours durable, high-quality materials over temporary or low-grade fixes. In your reports, explain the cost and show how the solution saves money in the long run.

What Common Home Modifications Are Still Funded?

Source

The NDIS funds necessary home modifications that increase independence and support safe mobility. High-impact solutions funded in 2026 include:

1. Slip-Resistance Coatings

Anti-slip coatings are a cost-effective way to improve safety in high-risk areas. Because they're surface treatments and low-cost home adaptations, they are funded under Assistive Technologies (code 05_221200111_0111_2_2) in the NDIS funding code guide.

The NDIS covers anti-slip coating installations, any recommendation must follow Australian slip-resistance standards for high-risk areas in residential homes.

2. Grab Bars and Handrails

These supports are essential for stability, significantly reducing fall risk and assisting with safe transfers. They are frequently approved for bathrooms, toilets, and staircases.

3. Accessible Showers and Toilet Areas

This includes removing hobs or steps, installing level-entry showers, and adjusting bathroom layouts to reduce hazards and improve accessibility for mobility aids.

4. Access Ramps and Pathway Improvements

Ramps should have a high slip rating (P4 or P5, depending on the slope) compliant with AS 4586 or AS 4663. The NDIS considers this modification especially important in wet, outdoor areas, including paths and patios.

5. Door Widening

Wider doorways are essential for powered wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility scooters. Due to structural changes, the NDIS categorises it as a complex home modification.

How to be Eligible for NDIS Funding

Source

The NDIS relies on clinical reasoning, detailed evidence and justification from an OT. Hence, eligibility really comes down to how clearly you explain why each modification is needed.

The Role of the Occupational Therapist (OT)

Here's what an OT does for participants:

• Assess Functional Capacity

Document what the participant can and cannot do safely in their home

• Detect Hazards

Outline specific risks such as slippery tiles or narrow doorways.

• Recommend Practical Solutions

Select the most cost-effective modification that resolves the issue, explore alternatives, and justify the final choice.

Documentation You Need for a Successful Application

To avoid delays on a funding request, participants and OTs must provide:

1. An OT Report

The OT NDIS report must clearly link the participant's disability to the functional necessity of each modification.

2. Itemised Quotes

These are required for some complex modifications. Quotes must specify product details along with labour, materials, and square-metre costs.

3. Compliance Certification

If you're requesting funding for flooring modifications or slip-resistant coatings, include proof of compliance with Australian Standards 4586 or 4663.

Stellmann even provides essential documentation for OT and plan managers, including:

• Product compliance certificates
  
• Technical data sheets
  
• Maintenance instructions
  
• Slip-rating test results

4. Photos and Sketches

They make it easier for planners to understand the functional problem and the proposed solution.

5. Written Consent

A landlord's permission is essential for modifications in rental properties.

Best Practices for NDIS Funding Applications

Strong applications focus on long-term value, functional outcomes, and compliance. Here's how:

1. Emphasise Functional Outcomes

More than just describing what it is, explain why the modification matters (to whom and in what circumstances).

2. Address Compliance Where Applicable

Use technical language and reference relevant standards to strengthen the application.

For example, "The bathroom floor slip-resistant treatment is rated P4 in accordance with AS 4663."

3. Focus on Long-Term Value and Durability

Emphasise the quality and compliance of proposed modifications compared to alternatives.

For Example:

Stellmann's CSIRO-certified anti-slip coatings will last 4-6 years in residential settings, while adhesive tapes last only about 6 months. Anti-slip coatings cut the cost of replacements, reassessments, and repairs.

Using the correct NDIA home modification assessment template can make the process much smoother, ensuring you include all the necessary information upfront and avoid application delays.

Further reading: Slip-Resistant Home Modifications for NDIS Participants | A Stellmann Guide

FAQs

Q1: What Types of Home Modifications are Funded by the NDIS?

Answer:

The NDIS funds modifications that improve safety, accessibility, and independence. Examples include installing slip-resistant flooring, grab rails, and ramps. To ensure approval, the modification must be cost-effective and related to the participant's disability.

Q2: Does NDIS Funding Cover Anti-Slip Coatings?

Answer:

Yes. Anti-slip coatings are considered low-cost home adaptations and can be funded by the NDIS under the Assistive Technology category. They are cost-effective and improve safety in wet areas like bathrooms.

Q3: Can Anti-slip Coatings Provide Slip Resistance Compliance in wet areas?

Answer:

Yes. Certified anti-slip coatings meet Australian standards (AS 4586 and AS 4663) for wet areas. High-quality coatings are categorised with P-ratings (like P4 or P5), which indicate their slip resistance and suitability for high-risk areas.

Conclusion

Creating a safe, accessible home is central to the NDIS. In 2026, successful home modification requests must balance functional necessity, value for money, and compliance. 

Slip-resistant coatings remain a commonly funded modification because they are quick, durable, and affordable ways to improve the safety of flooring in high-risk areas like bathrooms and kitchens. Emphasising these values will help participants and OTs secure funding. 

Visit our website for a free NDIS safety assessment.