Community housing providers are organisations that deliver social or affordable housing for people on lower incomes and housing associated services covered by the social and affordable housing policies of government policy and funding agencies.

The key objectives of the NRSCH are to:

• Provide a consistent regulatory environment to support the growth and development of the community housing sector
• Pave the way for future housing product development
  Reduce the regulatory burden on housing providers working across jurisdictions
• Provide a level playing field for providers seeking to enter new jurisdictions.

The governance arrangements are set out in an Inter- Government Agreement (IGA) for a National Regulatory System for Community Housing and provide for the establishment of the National Regulatory Council as an independent advisory committee.

A suite of Operational Guidelines guides the overall operation of the NRSCH in accordance with the National Law. The scope of a Registrar’s functions under the National Regulatory System is limited to regulatory activities. State and Territory housing authorities, depending on the arrangements in each jurisdiction, will continue to have responsibility for policy, funding and industry development decisions.

Background to the National Regulatory System for Community Housing

In June 2011, Housing Ministers across Australia agreed to a blueprint for a National Regulatory System for Community Housing Providers.

The National Regulatory System is a national system of registration, monitoring and regulation of community housing providers.

The National Regulatory System is designed to encourage the development and viability of community housing, to facilitate investment in the sector by promoting confidence in the good governance of community housing providers and reducing regulatory barriers and burdens to providers who currently, or plan to, operate in more than one jurisdiction.

The new system aims to:

• Protect government funding and equity in the sector
• Enhance investor and partner confidence
• Improve tenant outcomes and protect vulnerable tenants

The National Regulatory System is being developed through an applied law scheme with NSW as the Host State.

On 22 August 2012, the NSW Parliament passed the Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 (NSW) which provides uniform template legislation – the National Law for Community Housing Providers - for the National Regulatory System.

It is anticipated that other participating jurisdictions will submit to their Parliaments legislation that applies the National Law or substantially corresponds to the National Law in due course.

General Fact Sheet

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