One of the primary goals of Home Modification and Design is to create a living environment that is accessible, safe, and comfortable for people with disabilities. This can include modifications such as widening doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, installing grab bars and handrails, and installing wheelchair ramps or lifts. These changes can help individuals with disabilities to move around their homes with greater ease and independence, while also reducing their risk of falls and injuries.

Funding for home modifications and design is granted to help people with disability live more independently and safely in their homes. These services can include everything from minor modifications to complex modifications, depending on their cost and risk level. If your home meets the NDIS funding criteria, then funding for your home will be provided in your capital - Home Modifications budget. However, funding is not flexible and can only be strictly used for the home modification supports that is described in your plan.

Minor home modifications are customized changes that are typically non-structural and have a low risk of major problems during or after the work is done. These modifications only affect one or two areas in the home and cost less than $20,000 in total. These changes are usually straightforward and won't impact the supporting structures of your home, although whether a change is considered structural or non-structural may vary depending on which state or territory you live in. There are two categories of minor home modifications, with Category A modifications costing under $10,000 and Category B modifications costing between $10,000 and $20,000 or involving minor changes to a bathroom floor. At Royal Care Services, we fund these modifications using a set NDIS budget based on current market costs in MMM1 locations using the Modified Monash Model, and we regularly update these costs using building industry data.

Complex home modifications involve structural changes that are custom-built and often higher risk and/or higher cost than minor home modifications. These modifications usually require building approvals or permissions and certification of work, such as plumbing and electrical works. They may involve complex or technical work or impact several areas of the home, which can disrupt the resident's ability to live in their home over a number of weeks. Examples of complex home modifications include permanent ramps that cost over $10,000 and require building permit approval, structural modifications to a bathroom, extensive electrical or plumbing works, removing or changing load-bearing walls, and elevators or lifts that cost over $10,000 and require building permit approval. Any works that need building consultancies, such as engineering, architecture, quantity surveying, building surveying, or building certification, are also considered complex home modifications.

In some cases, home modifications may be considered complex if a large part of the home needs to be modified, or if the modifications will take a long time (months) to complete, which can affect the resident's ability to live at home. Modifications that are non-structural but extensive or cost over $20,000 (based on MMM1 location costs in the minor home modifications set NDIS budget) may also be considered complex. It's worth noting that whether a change is considered structural or non-structural can depend on which state or territory the resident lives in. At Royal Care Services, we can work with our clients to assess whether their home modifications are considered complex and provide guidance on funding and approvals.

As part of our Royal Care Services home modification supports, there are certain modifications that we do not generally fund. These include cosmetic upgrades for fixtures, fittings, or materials such as tapware or tiles, as well as swimming pools, spas, or hydrotherapy facilities. Additionally, we do not fund modifications that involve adding another storey to your home, or repairs to pre-existing damage outside of the immediate area where modifications are needed. We also do not cover insurance premiums to insure your home after it has been modified, or standard living costs and routine repairs that landlords or homeowners are responsible for. Finally, we cannot fund the correction of home modifications that do not meet the National Construction Code or other relevant Australian standards.