A Newcastle-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup is initiating a collaborative integration drive across the regional property sector to address deployment friction within the NDIS housing ecosystem. Trading as Housing Match, the online marketplace bridges communication gaps between traditional real estate agencies, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) developers to streamline property matching for participants with complex accessibility profiles.
The digital deployment targets structural inefficiencies within the national and regional property management pipelines. While capital allocation into purpose-built SDA assets and specialised private rentals remains high, regional service providers frequently navigate extensive vacancy periods due to fragmented communication channels between real estate networks, allied health discharge planners, and support coordinators.
Founder of Housing Match, Chris Skurrie noted that establishing unified data-sharing channels between commercial property managers and care providers eliminates redundant search cycles.
“Many disability providers are actively searching for rental properties for participants at the same time local real estate agencies are working hard to lease homes for landlords,” Chris said.
“Those conversations rarely happen together, despite both sectors trying to achieve the same outcome – helping people find the right home.”
Unlike generalised consumer real estate portals, the platform operates a specialised diagnostic filtration interface. The software cross-references traditional property specifications against distinct participant accessibility demands, localised care staff ratios, existing co-tenant lifestyle profiles, and long-term security of tenure goals. This prescriptive filtering is designed to optimise regional occupancy baselines, mitigate placement breakdowns, and secure stable, multi-year commercial leases for private landlords.
For regional real estate agencies, the business-to-business marketplace introduces a targeted marketing stream to advertise accessible or adaptive housing stock directly to well-capitalised institutional tenants.
Chris added that the dual-sided marketplace model maximises portfolio returns for property owners while expanding accessible rental supply.
“For agencies, it’s a cost-effective opportunity to showcase suitable properties to a highly targeted audience while building valuable relationships within the disability sector,” Chris said.
“For landlords, it can create opportunities for longer-term tenancies, reduced vacancy periods and partnerships with established disability service providers. At the same time, providers gain access to a broader range of suitable housing and participants have greater choice.”
The platform architecture is built to centralise logistics across the entire placement pathway, facilitating coordinated entries from regional hospital networks during clinical discharge planning. Ahead of its full pilot phase, the Hunter-based startup has issued a commercial call-to-action for regional real estate brokerages, corporate care entities, and healthcare coordinators to enter the system as Founding Partners.
IMAGE | Chris Skurrie
