NDIS Home Automation for Renters: Smart Home & Environmental Control Options
Renting a home does not necessarily mean that smart home technology or environmental controls are out of reach for an NDIS participant.
Depending on a participant’s individual functional needs, the technology being considered and the changes required to the property, there may be options ranging from relatively simple assistive technology through to professionally installed home automation and environmental controls.
For renters, however, there is another important consideration: the participant does not own the property.
Some smart home devices may be portable or require little change to the home, while other solutions may involve attaching fixtures, electrical work or modifications to the property. This can affect the approvals required before installation.
For NDIS participants renting in Queensland, understanding the difference between assistive technology, home automation and home modifications is therefore an important first step.
This guide explains how NDIS home automation can work in a rental property, what environmental control options may be considered, when landlord approval may be required, and what participants and their support teams should consider before arranging an installation.
Can NDIS Participants Have Home Automation in a Rental Property?
Potentially, yes.
The NDIS states that home automation supports that meet the relevant NDIS funding criteria can be funded. The NDIS currently treats home automation supports as a type of home modification and states that funded home automation must be related to the participant’s disability.¹
The NDIS also considers whether lower or mid-cost assistive technology could achieve the same outcome before funding home automation.¹
Renting does not automatically prevent a participant from having home modifications.
However, the NDIS states that it can only pay for modifications to a home that the participant owns, or where the owner agrees that the home can be modified. Where a participant is renting, the NDIS requires written approval from the landlord for the proposed changes.²
This means the question is generally not simply:
“Can a renter have smart home technology?”
Instead, participants and their support teams should consider:
- What functional barrier needs to be addressed?
- What technology could address that barrier?
- Could assistive technology achieve the required outcome without modifying the property?
- Does the proposed solution involve attaching a fixture or changing the property?
- Is landlord or property manager approval required?
- Is body corporate approval also required?
- What supporting evidence does the NDIS require?
- What happens to the equipment or modification when the tenancy ends?
The answers will depend on the participant, the property and the proposed solution.
For a broader explanation of funding, read Smarter Homes Australia’s NDIS Home Automation Funding Guide.
Assistive Technology vs Home Modifications in a Rental
This distinction is particularly important for renters.
The NDIS describes assistive technology as equipment or items that can help a participant do things they cannot do because of their disability.
The NDIS distinguishes this from home modifications, which involve changing parts of the home itself, including its structure, fixtures or fittings.²
For example, there can be an important practical difference between introducing a device that can simply be placed within the home and installing a system that requires permanent electrical work, a new door mechanism or fixtures to be attached to the property.
The appropriate classification and funding pathway will depend on the particular solution.
This is one reason environmental controls should not simply be approached as a shopping list of smart home products.
The process should start with the participant’s functional requirements.
A participant who has difficulty physically operating a conventional light switch, for example, may need an alternative method of controlling lighting. Depending on the circumstances, potential solutions could involve an accessible control interface, voice control, automation or changes to the installed lighting controls.
The goal is to identify an appropriate way of addressing the functional barrier, rather than assuming that a particular product is automatically an NDIS support.
For a detailed explanation of this approach, see our Environmental Controls Through the NDIS: Complete Guide.
Do You Need Landlord Approval for NDIS Home Automation?
It depends on what is being installed.
For NDIS-funded home modifications in a rental property, the NDIS requires written approval from the homeowner.²
Queensland tenancy rules also establish a process for tenants who want to attach fixtures or make structural changes to a rental property.
The Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority states that tenants must request approval from the property manager or owner before attaching a fixture or making a structural change. The request is made using the RTA’s Request for approval to attach fixtures or make structural changes (Form 23).³
The property manager or owner must consider the request and respond in writing within 28 days.³
If the property is part of a body corporate scheme, additional body corporate approval may also be required depending on the proposed work and applicable by-laws.³
Importantly, tenants should not assume that receiving no response means permission has been granted. The RTA states that if approval has not been provided, the tenant does not have permission to proceed with the fixture or structural change.³
This makes it important to determine exactly what the proposed environmental control installation involves before work begins.
A professional installer can assist by identifying:
- the equipment proposed
- where equipment would be installed
- whether equipment needs to be physically attached to the property
- whether electrical or other trade work is required
- the likely installation method
- whether components can later be removed
- what may be involved in restoring the property
This information can also help participants, Occupational Therapists and support teams explain the proposed solution when seeking the necessary approvals.
What Are Environmental Controls?
Environmental controls are technologies that provide alternative ways for a person to interact with parts of their environment where conventional controls may create a disability-related barrier.
Within the home, this can potentially include control of compatible:
- lighting
- doors and entry systems
- locks
- blinds
- air conditioning and climate controls
- switches
- intercoms and video doorbells
- other connected household systems
The interface used to control these systems can also vary.
Depending on the participant’s functional requirements and the technology involved, control may be provided through options such as voice commands, accessible switches, mobile devices, tablets, automated routines or a combination of interfaces.
For renters, the way the environmental control system is designed can be particularly important.
Where appropriate, considering solutions that minimise unnecessary permanent changes to the property may make installation, approvals and a future move easier.
However, the most suitable solution must still be determined by the participant’s actual functional requirements.
NDIS Smart Home Options for Renters
There is no single “NDIS smart home package” that is appropriate for every participant.
Different technologies address different functional barriers, and the feasibility of each option will depend on the participant and the rental property.
Smart Lighting
Conventional wall switches can create a barrier for some people who have difficulty reaching or physically operating them.
Compatible smart lighting systems can provide alternative ways of controlling lights, potentially including:
- voice control
- accessible control interfaces
- mobile or tablet control
- automated schedules
- routines
- compatible switches
For renters, the installation requirements are important.
Some lighting technologies can be introduced with relatively little alteration to the property, while other systems may require switches or electrical components to be replaced or installed.
Where fixed electrical work is proposed, the appropriate permissions should be obtained before installation and the work should be completed by appropriately qualified tradespeople.
Smarter Homes Australia provides Smart Lighting Installation across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Smart Locks and Accessible Entry
Using a conventional key or physically operating a lock can be difficult for some participants.
Depending on the participant’s requirements and the property, alternative entry solutions may include compatible smart or digital locks and other accessible entry systems.
These systems may provide alternative methods of operating the door rather than relying solely on a conventional key.
However, changing or installing a lock in a rental property needs particular consideration.
The Queensland RTA lists locks among examples of fixtures and requires tenants to obtain written approval before attaching fixtures or making structural changes.³
Participants should therefore discuss the proposed entry solution with their property manager or owner before installation.
Learn more about Smart Lock Installation.
Video Doorbells and Intercoms
For a participant who has difficulty reaching the front entrance quickly, a compatible video doorbell or intercom can provide another way to see or communicate with visitors from elsewhere in the home.
Depending on the system, notifications and communication may be available through a compatible device or interface.
Installation requirements vary considerably.
Some systems are relatively self-contained, while others require mounting, wiring or integration with other entry systems.
The installation method should therefore be established before determining what property approvals are required.
See our Video Doorbell Installation service for more information.
Voice Control and Smart Home Assistants
Voice control can provide an alternative interface for compatible smart home and environmental control technology.
Rather than physically reaching multiple conventional controls around the property, a compatible voice assistant may allow certain connected functions to be operated from another location.
The usefulness of voice control depends on the participant’s individual functional requirements and the compatibility of the systems being controlled.
Voice control should therefore be considered as one possible interface within a broader environmental control system rather than automatically being treated as the solution itself.
Smart Air Conditioning and Climate Control
Traditional air conditioning controls may be difficult to access or operate for some participants.
Where the existing air conditioning system is compatible, alternative controls may provide another way to adjust temperature or operating modes.
The feasibility of this will depend heavily on the air conditioning system already installed in the rental property.
Some solutions may involve additional control hardware, while others may require changes to existing equipment.
This should be assessed before installation or funding decisions are made.
Automated Doors
Automated doors can address a significant functional barrier where a participant cannot independently operate a conventional door.
However, door automation is substantially different from introducing a portable smart home device.
Installation may involve door hardware, electrical components, sensors, controls and changes to the property.
Where a proposed automated door constitutes a home modification, the relevant NDIS evidence and property approvals will need to be considered.
The NDIS specifically uses an automated front door as an example of home automation that may potentially be funded where the relevant criteria are met.¹
Integrated Home Automation
In some circumstances, multiple environmental controls may need to operate together.
For example, a participant’s requirements could involve alternative control of lighting, entry and climate through a common accessible interface.
An integrated system can potentially reduce the need to interact with numerous separate controls around the home.
For renters, system design should also consider the property itself, the installation requirements and what will happen if the participant eventually moves.
Learn more about Home Automation Installation or explore our Ultimate Guide to NDIS Smart Homes and Assisted Living Technology.
What Happens When an NDIS Participant Moves Rental Properties?
This should be considered before the system is installed, not when the tenancy is about to end.
The NDIS specifically states that, for a participant who rents, it needs to know whether the landlord will require funded home modifications to be removed at the end of the lease.²
Queensland rental arrangements may also include conditions concerning fixtures, removal and restoration of the property.³
For an environmental control system, it is therefore useful to establish:
- which components belong to the participant
- which components are fixed to the property
- which equipment can be removed and reused
- whether removal requires a qualified tradesperson
- whether the property must be restored
- who is responsible for restoration
- whether the technology will be suitable for the participant’s next property
Not every component of a system will necessarily have the same answer.
A portable control device may be straightforward to move, while fixed electrical components or door automation may require professional removal and reinstatement.
Considering these issues during the design stage can help avoid unnecessary complications later.
The Role of an Occupational Therapist
An Occupational Therapist may play an important role in identifying the participant’s functional requirements and assessing potential solutions.
For home modifications, the NDIS states that an assessment considers how the participant’s disability affects them at home, what modifications may be required to improve independence and information about the property.⁴
The NDIS also states that evidence may be required to demonstrate why home automation is needed because of the participant’s disability and why it is appropriate compared with other potential supports.¹
For renters, the process can involve several different perspectives:
The participant and support network understand the day-to-day functional barriers.
The Occupational Therapist can assess functional requirements and recommend appropriate supports where required.
The installer can determine how the recommended functionality could technically be implemented within the particular property.
The property manager or owner considers requests to attach fixtures or modify the rental property.
The NDIS determines whether the requested support meets the applicable funding criteria.
These are different roles.
Smarter Homes Australia does not determine what the NDIS will fund. Its role is to help determine how identified smart home or environmental control requirements can be practically implemented and to provide appropriate installation information and quotations.
A Typical NDIS Home Automation Process for a Renter
While every participant’s circumstances are different, a process may look something like this:
1. Identify the Functional Barrier
The participant and their support team identify activities within the rental property that are difficult because of the participant’s disability.
2. Assess the Participant’s Requirements
Where required, an Occupational Therapist or other appropriate professional assesses the participant’s functional needs and considers possible solutions.
3. Consider Assistive Technology and Alternatives
The NDIS states that lower or mid-cost assistive technology should be considered when determining whether it could achieve the same outcome as proposed home automation.¹
4. Identify the Proposed Environmental Controls
Where home automation or environmental controls are appropriate, the required functionality can be identified.
5. Assess the Rental Property
An installer can assess how the recommended functionality could be implemented within the particular home.
This may establish whether the proposed system involves portable equipment, attached fixtures, electrical work or more significant modifications.
6. Obtain Property Approvals Where Required
For Queensland rental properties, approval must be sought before attaching fixtures or making structural changes.³
Where NDIS-funded home modifications are proposed in a rental property, written landlord approval is also required by the NDIS.⁴
Body corporate approval may also be necessary in some properties.
7. Obtain a Technical Solution and Quote
Once the requirements and property constraints are understood, an installer can develop the technical solution and provide appropriate quotation information.
8. NDIS Funding Decision
The NDIS considers the evidence and determines whether the requested supports meet the relevant funding criteria.
9. Installation and Configuration
Once the relevant funding and property approvals are in place, the approved system can be professionally installed and configured around the participant’s requirements.
The exact process will vary depending on the participant, the technology and the complexity of the proposed work.
Questions to Ask Before Installing NDIS Home Automation in a Rental
Before proceeding, participants and their support teams may find it useful to establish:
- What specific functional barrier is the technology intended to address?
- Has an appropriate assessment been completed where required?
- Could a less invasive or more portable solution achieve the required outcome?
- What exactly will be installed?
- Will anything be screwed, wired or otherwise attached to the property?
- Is electrical, building or other trade work required?
- Is written landlord approval required?
- Does a body corporate also need to approve the work?
- Who owns the equipment after installation?
- Can the equipment be removed and reused?
- What happens when the tenancy ends?
- Will the property need to be restored?
- Has funding been confirmed before installation begins?
Getting these questions answered early can make the process considerably clearer for everyone involved.
Can the NDIS Fund Home Automation for a Renter?
Renting does not, by itself, exclude a participant from having NDIS-funded home modifications.
The NDIS states that it can fund home automation supports where they meet the relevant funding criteria.¹
However, the NDIS also requires written homeowner approval before it can fund modifications to a rental property.⁴
Whether a particular smart home or environmental control solution is funded will depend on factors including the participant’s disability-related needs, evidence, alternatives, value for money and the applicable NDIS funding criteria.
Participants should therefore confirm funding before purchasing equipment or commencing installation.
Our NDIS Home Automation Funding Guide explains this process in considerably more detail.
NDIS Home Automation for Renters in Brisbane and South East Queensland
Smarter Homes Australia provides smart home, environmental control and assistive technology installation services for NDIS participants across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
The team can work alongside participants, families, Occupational Therapists, Support Coordinators and other relevant professionals to understand identified functional requirements and determine how recommended technology could be implemented within the participant’s home.
For rental properties, this can include providing technical information about the proposed solution, installation requirements and quotations to assist participants and their support teams through the planning and approval process.
Depending on the identified requirements and property, solutions may involve lighting control, entry systems, video doorbells, voice control, climate control and integrated home automation.
Explore our NDIS Security, Home Automation & Assistive Technology Installation services or contact Smarter Homes Australia to discuss an installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install NDIS home automation if I rent?
Potentially. Renting does not automatically prevent a participant from having home automation or home modifications. However, the proposed technology, NDIS funding requirements and property approvals all need to be considered. The NDIS requires written homeowner approval for funded home modifications in a rental property.
Does my landlord have to approve smart home technology?
Not every smart home device necessarily involves a modification to the property. However, in Queensland, tenants must obtain approval before attaching fixtures or making structural changes. If the proposed NDIS home automation involves a home modification, the NDIS also requires written approval from the homeowner.
Can a landlord refuse an NDIS home modification?
Queensland’s RTA states that property managers and owners must be reasonable when considering a tenant’s request to attach fixtures or make structural changes. They must respond to the request in writing within 28 days. If a request is refused or no written response is received within the required period, the RTA provides a dispute resolution process, with QCAT potentially able to decide unresolved matters.
What smart home technology could be considered for a rental property?
Depending on the participant’s functional requirements and the property, potential technologies may include accessible lighting control, voice control, smart entry systems, video doorbells, climate control, smart switches and integrated environmental controls. The appropriate solution depends on the individual participant and may require property approval.
Can NDIS-funded smart home equipment move with me?
Some equipment may be removable and potentially reusable, while other components may be fixed to the property. The NDIS specifically considers whether a landlord will require home modifications to be removed at the end of a lease. Participants should clarify ownership, removal and restoration requirements before installation.
Can Smarter Homes Australia work with my Occupational Therapist?
Yes. Smarter Homes Australia can work alongside participants, Occupational Therapists, Support Coordinators and other relevant professionals to understand identified functional requirements and determine how recommended smart home or environmental control functionality could be implemented within the property.
Planning an Accessible Smart Home When You Rent
A rental property introduces additional considerations, but it does not mean accessible smart home technology should automatically be ruled out.
The key is to start with the functional barrier, not the product.
From there, the participant and their support team can consider appropriate assistive technology or environmental controls, understand what changes the rental property would require, obtain the necessary approvals and confirm the applicable NDIS funding pathway.
For renters in Queensland, obtaining the appropriate property approvals before installing fixtures or making structural changes is particularly important.
With the participant’s requirements, property constraints and approval process understood from the beginning, smart home and environmental control technology can be planned around both the person who needs to use it and the home in which it will be installed.
Further Reading
Environmental Controls Through the NDIS: Complete Guide
NDIS Home Automation Funding: What Can the NDIS Fund?
Ultimate Guide to NDIS Smart Homes & Assisted Living Technology
NDIS Home Automation & Assistive Technology Installation
References
- National Disability Insurance Scheme, Home automation, NDIS Our Guidelines.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme, Guide to home modifications and What are home modifications, 2026.
- Residential Tenancies Authority Queensland, Fixtures and structural changes and Renting and home modifications, 2026.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme, What are home modification assessments, 2026.
