Regulation and Growth of the Not-For-Profit Housing Sector: Discussion Paper 

Table of contents

• Foreword
• 1. The Shortage of Affordable Housing  
• 2. Reshaping Australia's Social Housing Sector
• 3. The Role of Regulation in Growing the Not-for-Profit Housing Sector
• 4. A Model for National Regulation
• 5. Protecting the Interests of Tenants in Community Housing
• 6. Commercial Activities of the Not-for-Profit Housing Sector
• 7. Strengthening Indigenous Community Housing 
• 8. About the Consultation and Submission Process 
• Glossary
• Appendix A - List of Figures and Tables 
• Appendix B - Growth Providers - Case Studies 
• Appendix C – Community housing regulation by jurisdiction 
• Appendix D – Written Submission Cover Sheet 

Foreword

There is no issue more important to Australians and their families than having a safe and secure home.

Over the past two years the Australian Government has been working with State, Territory and Local Governments, the not-for-profit sector and private industry to increase the supply of affordable rental homes.  We have made an historic investment in social housing and established a whole new way of financing using the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

Our current programs will increase the stock of affordable housing by more than 80,000 affordable rental homes.  As well as building more homes, we are exploring more innovative models of providing social and affordable housing.  In the future we will see a small number of larger, commercially sophisticated, not-for-profit housing providers operating alongside the existing State and Territory-run housing authorities.

The community housing sector has grown rapidly over the past five years, increasing by a third between 2003 and 2008.  Not-for-profit providers have shown that they are able to build more homes by working with banks, developers and other commercial partners, than they would have been able to do through government grants alone. 

For not-for-profit housing providers to play a bigger role we need a regulatory system that gives us all confidence. Tenants need secure and stable housing.  Investors need confidence that they can partner with a viable and well-managed sector.  Housing providers themselves need simple regulations which give them the opportunity to expand across State and Territory borders and to enter into solid commercial relationships.

This discussion paper canvasses the shape of future regulation of the not-for-profit housing sector.  While this paper has been written by the Australian Government, many people have provided feedback on this paper including State and Territory Governments.  I am grateful for their assistance.

I welcome a robust public debate on the growth and regulation of a not-for-profit housing sector that can contribute more effectively to growth in affordable housing supply and that delivers high-quality services to tenants. 

I encourage everyone with an interest in affordable rental housing and the role of the Community Housing Sector to contribute to this discussion by providing a written or online submission to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs or by attending one of the public forums that will be held across Australia in May 2010.

I look forward to receiving your comments.

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Housing