What is a SIL headlease?
A SIL headlease can simplify how a shared home is managed, but it changes who signs the main lease and collects housing payments. This article explains the model, the money flow and the checks you should make before agreeing to a Perth property.
Under a headlease, Innogreen leases an SDA property to a SIL provider rather than issuing the main lease directly to each resident. The SIL provider then arranges occupancy with eligible residents under written agreements covering rent, house rules and notice periods.
Supported independent living pays for rostered personal support. It does not pay for the building. Specialist Disability Accommodation covers the disability-related housing component for eligible people.
These funding streams remain separate even when one provider coordinates daily support and occupancy. Read our SDA and SIL comparison before discussing a headlease.
How do rent and NDIS payments work?
A headlease creates several payment relationships. Each one should be recorded separately so residents can see what they are paying and what their NDIS plan covers.
| Payment | Usually paid by | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Headlease rent | SIL provider to Innogreen | Use of the property under the headlease |
| SDA payment | NDIA to the registered SDA provider | Disability-related design and housing costs |
| Reasonable rent contribution | Resident, as set out in the occupancy agreement | Ordinary housing costs |
| SIL support payment | Participant’s NDIS plan to the SIL provider | Personal support delivered in the home |
The headlease does not make the SIL provider eligible to claim SDA payments. SDA claims depend on the property being enrolled correctly and an eligible participant living there.
Your agreement should explain payment dates, utilities, maintenance responsibilities and what happens during a vacancy. For more detail, see how SDA payments work.
What protections should residents check?
Housing and support should not be treated as one indivisible service. You should retain choice about who provides your daily supports, subject to practical arrangements for shared staffing and the terms of your occupancy agreement.
Before moving in, ask the SIL provider and Innogreen:
- Can you change support providers without losing your home?
- Who handles repairs, urgent maintenance and after-hours property issues?
- What notice applies if the headlease ends?
- Who holds any bond, and how is it lodged?
- How are vacancies and new housemates managed?
- Which complaints process applies to housing and which applies to support?
Western Australian tenancy rights may depend on the legal form of the agreement. Ask whether the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA) applies and consider independent tenancy advice if anything is unclear.
Shared living also requires consent, privacy and clear expectations between residents. Our article on rights and responsibilities in shared SDA explains what to discuss before signing.
How does Innogreen set up a headlease?
The process starts with confirming that the property, SDA category and location suit the proposed residents. Innogreen and the SIL provider then agree on responsibilities for rent, vacancies, damage, maintenance, insurance and ending the lease.
A typical process is:
- Property review: Confirm accessibility features, enrolment status and suitability for the intended residents.
- Provider checks: Review registration, insurance, service capacity and responsibility for shared areas.
- Resident matching: Give each person clear property information and enough time to decide.
- Written agreements: Sign the headlease and individual occupancy documents before move-in.
- Handover: Record property condition, keys, emergency contacts and maintenance procedures.
- Ongoing review: Keep housing matters separate from support delivery and address issues promptly.
Residents should still inspect the property themselves or through a trusted representative. Use these questions for touring SDA housing in Perth to check bedrooms, bathrooms, assistive technology, transport and local services.
A headlease is not suitable for every property or support model. Innogreen considers each arrangement based on resident needs, the home’s design and the proposed tenancy structure.
Summary
A SIL headlease places the SIL provider between Innogreen and residents for tenancy management, while SDA funding and support funding remain separate. Clear agreements should protect participant choice, explain every payment and set out what happens if a provider or resident leaves.
If you are considering a SIL headlease for an Innogreen property in Perth or elsewhere in Western Australia, contact Innogreen to discuss the property, proposed residents and next steps.