Tips for Sourcing Accommodation When Living With a Disability In Australia

We have always been told from a very young age to get a roof over our heads so that we can feel comfortable and safe in our environment. Finding a suitable property is difficult enough for able-bodied people without having to deal with it if you are living with some kind of disability yourself. You would think that people would be falling over themselves to provide equal opportunities for those less able but unfortunately, you would be disappointed. Australia still have a long way to go when it comes to providing suitable accommodation for people with disabilities and that is quite unfortunate.

There is good news on the horizon however and it is the fact that things have been put into place so that short term accommodation disability is a lot more accessible than it used to be. It is true that this is a short-term solution but hopefully, it will be the beginning of your new life and you will be able to find somewhere permanent to lay your hat. If you are currently searching for suitable accommodation so that you can live easily with your disability then the following are just some tips that you’re going to need when finding such accommodation.

• You certainly do have rights – The Australian government and other relevant parties have been fighting for many years now to make sure that people with disabilities are afforded the same rights as every other Australian. You need to be aware that if your landlord starts asking you questions that you are not comfortable about with regard to your disability then you are not required to answer any of his or her questions. You can of course answer if you wish and many landlords can be incredibly helpful because the questions are in relation to how they can make your stay more comfortable.
• You can make reasonable requests – Depending on your disability, you can ask your landlord for certain exceptions when it comes to their accommodation rules. For example, there may be a clear notice stating that pets are not allowed but if you are sight-impaired and you need a dog to help you live your daily life then this would be deemed as a reasonable concession. Similarly, if you rely a great deal on your car to get you from one place to another then it would be reasonable to ask for a parking space close to your property.

In any rental contract here in Australia, landlords will state that they do not want you making any changes to the property and that is a reasonable request. However, if you have some kind of disability and you want to make reasonable changes that make your life easier, your landlord should be flexible in this regard. The thing to remember is that you can’t expect your landlord to pay for these changes and even though they may be agreeable, you should expect to have to put your hand in your wallet or purse and pay.