Supported independent living: Agreements about tenancy, housing and support arrangements

To achieve this outcome, the following indicators should be demonstrated:

1. Where a provider is delivering both assistance with supported independent living and tenancy to the same participant, there are separate service and tenancy agreements.
2. Each participant who is receiving both assistance with supported independent living and tenancy from the same provider is supported to understand the distinction between their service agreement and tenancy agreement, including that they are legally separate and that one is not contingent on the other. This includes requiring workers to refer participants to access independent advocacy or legal assistance to understand their rights and responsibilities.
3. Policies and procedures are in place that detail how perceived or actual conflicts of interests are identified and managed by a provider that is delivering both assistance with supported independent living and tenancy to the same participant. The conflict of interest policies are made available to participants in the language, mode of communication and terms which each participant is most likely to understand.
4. Policies and procedures are in place to ensure participants can raise concerns about their supports and tenancy management without fear of retribution. This includes requiring workers to assist participants to access advocacy and/or legal services where appropriate. 
5. Each participant who is receiving both assistance with supported independent living and tenancy from the same provider is supported in their tenancy: 
   1. By the provider providing accessible information and support to ensure the participant understands their rights and responsibilities under relevant tenancy law. This includes information about their house-sharing arrangements, notice periods and exit processes.
   2. By the provider providing, when required by the participant, more detailed assistance to understand their rights and responsibilities, including to access advocacy and/or legal services.
   3. To understand their rights to change, in whole or in part, the provider who delivers assistance with supported independent living at any time during the tenancy agreement, and there are appropriate participant centred arrangements to facilitate this. 
   4. To be involved in decisions about their home environment including how shared spaces should be used. 
   5. To have access to house keys and to have private spaces that are managed in accordance with their preferences and subject to paragraph (f). This includes ensuring participants have the right to control who enters their private space. 
   6. By not having any limits applied to their access or possessions, unless there is a behaviour support plan in place for the participant. Any limits to access or possessions are applied in the least restrictive way possible and in accordance with their behaviour support plan. 
   7. By the provider maintaining ongoing compliance with all relevant laws and standards, including building standards and tenancy laws that apply to disability accommodation. 
   8. To understand their tenancy agreement, including any conditions, by using the language, mode of communication and terms which that participant is most likely to understand.
   9. To have a copy of their agreement as signed by the participant and the provider. Where this is not practicable, a record is made detailing the circumstances in which the participant did not receive a copy of their agreement.
6. Each participant is supported to have a written service agreement in place that set out the following matters:
   1. How a participant’s concerns about their home will be communicated and addressed;
   2. How potential conflicts involving co-tenants will be managed;
   3. How changes to participant circumstances and/or support needs will be agreed and communicated;
   4. How vacancies will be filled, including each participant’s right to have their needs, preferences and situation taken into account;
   5. How behaviours of concern, which may put tenancies at risk will be managed, if this is a relevant issue for the participant; and
   6. How participants can have visitors in their home, including how participants will be supported to exercise this choice safely without unnecessary restrictions.