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Group homes in NSW
Ways to protect people and their rights
Easy Read version
How to use this document
This information is written in an easy to read way. We use pictures to
explain some ideas.
This document has been written by the NSW Government Department of
Family and Community Services (FACS). When you see the word ‘we’, it
means the NSW Government.
Some words are written in bold. We explain what these words mean.
There is a list of these words on page 14.
This Easy Read document is a summary of another document.
You can find the other document on our website at
www.facs.nsw.gov.au/residentrights
You can ask for help to read this document. A friend, family member or
support person may be able to help you.
What’s in this document?
What is a group home? 3
The law in NSW 4
Changing the law in NSW 4
Rights for people who live in group homes 5
How to tell us what you think 12
What do you think? 13
Word list 14
Page 2
What is a group home?
Many people with disability in NSW live in group homes.
A group home is a place where people with disability:
live together
get daily living support.
In a group home you have your own bedroom.
You share other spaces in the home, including the:
living or lounge room
kitchen
dining room
laundry.
You might also have to share a bathroom.
Some people get support for accommodation from the NDIS.
This is called Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA.
Page 3
The law in NSW
In NSW we have laws to protect people who live in homes that someone
else owns.
The laws protect the person who:
lives in the home
owns the home.
The laws explain your:
rights
protections
responsibilities – things you need to do.
Right now, the laws do not cover people who live in group homes.
Changing the law in NSW
We think the law needs to change.
We want people who live in group homes to have a similar set of rights
and protections to everyone else.
This is an important idea from the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN Convention).
The UN Convention sets out the rights of people with disability.
It explains how people with disability should be treated fairly.
We have written some ideas about how the law could change.
We want to know what you think about our ideas.
We explain how you can tell us what you think on page 12.
Page 4
Rights for people who live in group homes
We’re thinking about giving better protections to people who live in group
homes in NSW.
These new rights could include:
1. Appealing to NCAT
You can appeal to NCAT to argue for your accommodation rights.
NCAT is the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
NCAT is similar to a court where people with accommodation problems
can have them solved by a special officer.
NCAT can also help people who live in group homes when their rights
are not being met.
What do you think about our idea for using NCAT?
2. Having a written agreement
The agreement would:
explain everyone’s
o rights
o responsibilities.
need to be approved by:
o the person moving into the group home
o the accommodation provider – the organisation that manages
the group home
There might be a standard agreement for everyone to use.
Accommodation providers could also write their own agreements.
Page 5
What do you think about our ideas on having a written agreement?
3. Utility charges
A utility is something you need and use in your home, such as:
water
electricity
gas
internet.
In group homes, everyone should pay their share of the utilities.
We could:
add how utility costs will be shared to the law
let it be part of how accommodation providers manage
group homes.
What do you think about our ideas on utility charges?
4. Right to quiet enjoyment
Quiet enjoyment is when you can live:
in peace
in comfort
without being disturbed by other people when you want to be
left alone.
The accommodation provider needs to tell the people who live in the
group home before they visit.
The people who live in the group home need to let each other live in
quiet enjoyment too.
We could put this into the law.
Page 6
‘Quiet enjoyment’ could be for:
the whole group home
or
only for each person’s room.
What do you think about our ideas on the right to quiet enjoyment?
5. Pets
You need to ask the accommodation provider before you can keep a pet
in your group home.
Other people who live in the group home might have their own ideas
about keeping pets.
If you have a pet, you might need to pay extra to cover the cost of
cleaning up any extra mess your pet might make.
The most you would need to pay would be 1 week’s rent.
What do you think about our ideas on pets?
6. Selling the home you live in
The owner might choose to sell the group home you live in.
The owner needs to tell you if they want to bring buyers to look at
the home.
The owner might need to tell you:
14 days before
30 days before.
We think the law should let the people who live in the group home tell
the owner when buyers can come and look at the home.
What do you think about our ideas on selling the home you live in?
Page 7
7. The accommodation provider’s right to enter the home
You need to be told 24 hours before if the accommodation provider
plans to visit the home to do any work or repairs.
You need to be told 48 hours before if the accommodation provider
plans to bring someone who might join the group home for a visit.
Is this enough time?
How much time should they give you if they want to go inside
your room?
What do you think about our ideas on the accommodation provider’s right to enter the home?
8. Looking after the home
The accommodation provider needs to keep your group home in a
good condition.
If you need something fixed urgently, it needs to be done within
12 hours.
Is this the right amount of time?
The accommodation provider also needs to tell you how they will fix any
other repairs you ask for.
What do you think about our ideas on looking after a home?
Page 8
9. Modifications
Modifications are changes that people with disability need to a home so
they can keep living there.
Once the change has been made, it will stay that way.
You can only make these changes if:
the accommodation provider says they are ok
your written agreement says you can.
You may need to share the cost of making the changes with the
accommodation provider.
Would that be fair?
If the accommodation provider says the house isn’t able to have
modifications, they will help you find a new house that can.
What do you think about our ideas on modifications?
10. Locks and security
The accommodation provider needs to make sure the outside locks and
anything else used to protect the home:
work well
keep the house safe.
Any locks on inside doors, like for your room, will need to be worked out
in the accommodation agreement.
What do you think about our ideas on locks and security?
Page 9
11. Change of owner or agent
Your accommodation provider needs to tell you 21 days before if there
will be a new owner or accommodation provider.
You need this time to change your payments over to the new provider.
Is this enough time?
If the owner or the accommodation provider changes, you may need to
sign a new accommodation agreement.
What do you think about our ideas on the change of owner or agent?
12. Moving out
If you choose to move out:
You can move out of the group home if you give the accommodation
provider 60 days’ notice.
In some cases, you may only need to give the accommodation provider
14 days’ notice before you move out.
If you are asked to move out:
The accommodation provider can ask you to move out if they give
you 90 days’ notice.
In some cases, the accommodation provider can ask you to move
out with only 30 days’ notice.
If you are asked to move out, the accommodation provider will help you
find somewhere else to live.
If you have SDA, the NDIS will help you:
stay in the home
find somewhere else to live.
Page 10
If you are in hospital or prison, the accommodation provider can ask you
to move out but only if NCAT agrees.
Some group homes were part of a transfer to
non-government organisations.
If this applies to you, your accommodation agreement says that you
can’t be asked to move in the first 2 years.
What do you think about our ideas on moving out?
13. Leaving your things behind
If you leave things behind after you move out, the accommodation
provider can ask NCAT for permission to remove those items.
They need to wait 30 days before they ask NCAT.
Is 30 days enough time?
What do you think about our ideas on leaving your things behind?
Page 11
How to tell us what you think
There are different ways you can tell us what you think. You can:
do the online survey
www.facs.nsw.gov.au/residentrights
send us an email
send us your feedback in the mail.
Attn: Residents Rights Consultation Process
Family and Community Services
Level 13
4–6 Bligh Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
We need to have your feedback by 2 March 2018.
Page 12
What do you think?
You can use the space below to write your ideas.
Page 13
Word list
Accommodation provider
The organisation that runs the group home.
Bond
A payment you make when you sign an agreement to live in a
new home.
Holding fee
A payment you make when you want to save your place in a new home
until you sign the agreement.
Modifications
Changes that people with disability need to a home so they can keep
living there.
Once the change has been made, it will stay that way.
NCAT
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
NCAT is similar to a court where people with accommodation problems
can have them solved by a special officer.
Responsibilities
Things you need to do.
Quiet enjoyment is when you can live:
in peace
in comfort
without being disturbed by other people when you want to be left
alone.
Page 14
Utility
Something you need and use in your home, such as:
water
electricity
gas
internet.
This Easy Read document was created by the Information Access Group. For any
enquiries, please visit www.informationaccessgroup.com.
Please quote job number 2772.
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