As at 30 June 2015, 128 eligible community housing providers in New South Wales have successfully completed the transition to registration under the new National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH). Between them, these registered providers own or manage over 31,000 properties, providing a range of social and affordable housing options for individuals and families in New South Wales, including crisis and temporary accommodation and longer-term tenancies.
The NRSCH went live on 1 January 2014 and New South Wales community housing providers previously registered under Part 9A of the Housing Act 2001 (NSW) were given 18 months to transition their registration to the new system.
Registrar Pamela Hanrahan said, "Registrars and staff from all participating States and Territories have worked closely together over the last two years to ensure a nationally consistent approach to regulation and to resolve the design and implementation issues arising along the way. We are pleased that the community housing sector has embraced the NRSCH and worked so constructively with us to co-design and implement the system.
We are now looking forward to building on the work done during the transition period, to enhance the capacity of community housing providers to deliver innovative and sustainable housing solutions for the benefit of people in New South Wales."
The NRSCH was established by legislation in 2012 to provide a nationally consistent co-operative system of regulation for community housing providers around Australia. The system aims to ensure a well governed, well managed and viable national community housing sector that meets the housing needs of tenants and provides assurance for government and investors.
All non-government entities that deliver housing for people on very low, low or moderate income or for people with additional needs, and that satisfy the registration criteria, are eligible to register under the system. In New South Wales, an entity must be registered to receive assistance from the Department of Family and Community Services or the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation under a community housing agreement.
The registration criteria are directed at the entity’s capacity to deliver against the seven key performance outcomes required under the National Regulatory Code, in the areas of tenant and housing services, housing assets, community engagement, governance, probity, management and financial viability. The NRSCH separates regulation from government funding and contract management, and provides a sound platform for the sector to mature and grow.
As at 30 June 2015, there were 203 community housing providers registered nationally under the NRSCH, of which 128 nominated New South Wales as their primary (or home) jurisdiction. The community housing sector is very diverse. Some providers focus on increasing the supply of social and affordable housing through development. Others are specialist organisations that provide housing as part of a broader support response for individuals and families with particular needs.
NSW snapshot as at 30 June 2015:
