By Ev Foley | 9-2-2023 | Investment
Mum and Dad investors are the target audience for an emerging sector of investment firms promoting great returns on properties built to house recipients of NDIS Specialty Disability Accommodation (SDA) funds.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Deputy Chair Sarah Court, “SDA housing investment is a developing area and it can be structured in different ways.
According to the NDIS, SDA funding is provided for participants who meet strict eligibility criteria, which includes having an extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs.
Need for NDIS property exploding
When the NDIS first established in 2013, there were just under 8,000 people seeking support, today there is 550,000; of which 22,479 nationwide, have a need for speciality disability accommodation.
“With so many people needing NDIS properties, they are now one of the most sought-after forms of property investment because of their social benefits and investment returns,”
“In my view, NDIS housing is providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for mum and dad investors to create generational wealth.”
NDIS investment opportunities abound but be wary
“My strong advice is to partner with an organisation that is experienced in helping people to build their own NDIS property.
“By doing this, you will not only get the help you need to find the most appropriate location, purchase the best piece of land and secure the most skilled builder, you will also be provided with the guidance and advice necessary to minimise stress and ensure the turnkey project is a success.
“While there is strong demand for NDIS property all over the country, there are certainly areas to be avoided that have been oversaturated by developers, builders and investor groups chasing a quick ‘buck’.
Selecting the right area must be done in conjunction with the people at the “coalface”, participants, Supported Independent Living (SIL) and SDA managers.
NDIS numbers rising exponentially
The most recent NDIS quarterly report to disability ministers showed active participants with SDA supports have increased by 15 per cent annually over the last three years, reaching 20,920 as of 30 September 2022, and 22,479 by November 2022.
“The average plan budgets for SDA supports have also increased by around 11 per cent per annum, leading to an increase in total SDA supports in participant plans by around 28 per cent per annum, from $144 million in September 2019 to $306 million as of 30 September 2022,” the report states.
“Total SDA payments have increased by 45 per cent annually over the last three years, from $67 million to $205 million, while the average SDA payments per participant have also increased, by 24 per cent per annum.”
The total number of enrolled SDA dwellings on 30 September 2022 was 7,334, up by 28 per cent annually over the last three years, and by 773 dwellings (12 per cent), compared to a year ago at 30 September 2021.
This increase was observed across all design categories, except for Basic stock, which saw a two per cent reduction (48 dwellings).
The largest relative increase was for dwellings of the High Physical Support category (35 per cent, 514 dwellings), followed by dwellings of the Robust design category (35 per cent, 137 dwellings). All states and territories excluding Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory saw increases in enrolled dwellings.
By October there were 3,419 participants in an SDA dwelling seeking an alternative dwelling and an additional 1,559 participants who were not in an SDA dwelling seeking a vacancy. Of the combined 4,978 participants seeking SDA dwellings, 1,674 (34 per cent) were for the Improved Liveability design category and 1,347 (27 per cent) were for High Physical Support.
A review of SDA pricing was launched in 2022 that evaluates the impact of current SDA prices on supply and demand and set new SDA prices to guide market investment to areas that will most benefit people with disability that need SDA housing over the next five years.
https://www.apimagazine.com.au/news/article/ndis-property-investment-risky-but-rewarding