How Home Modification Assessments Work
How the NDIS home modification assessment works: the OT home visit, the evidence and report, quotes for complex work, and how the NDIA decision is made.
Home modifications on the NDIS are assessment-led, which means an occupational therapist looks at how you actually function in your home before anything is recommended or built. This guide walks through the assessment from start to finish — the home visit, the evidence, the quotes, and how the NDIA reaches a decision — so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
Why assessment comes first
The occupational therapist's home visit
The evidence and the report
Quotes and building practitioners
The NDIA decision and timeframes
Frequently asked questions
Who does the home modification assessment?
Usually an occupational therapist (OT). They assess how you function at home and recommend specific changes with evidence, linked to your disability and your goals. Complex work also involves a building practitioner.
Do I have to be assessed in my own home?
Wherever possible, yes, because the barriers are specific to your home. Seeing you move in your actual bathroom, kitchen or hallway gives a far more accurate picture than a form or an office visit.
Why are two quotes sometimes needed?
For complex, structural work, two quotes help show the cost is reasonable given how much prices can vary between builders. Minor work usually needs only one quote.
What is the NDIA checking when it decides?
That the modification is reasonable and necessary, related to your disability, and the most effective option for the money. The OT report and quotes are the main evidence behind that decision.
What if my needs change later?
Your plan can be looked at again. Under the current approach this is called a reassessment rather than a review. Talk to your planner or LAC if your circumstances or needs have changed.
How long does an assessment and decision take?
It varies with complexity. Minor changes are quicker; complex structural work takes longer because of extra assessment, quotes and building checks. Ask your OT and planner for a realistic estimate.