Message from the Registrar
The number of community housing providers continues to grow with 231 CHPs now registered in NSW.
In this reporting period we have seen 28 new providers being registered while there have been three cancellations for the corresponding period. This equates to a net increase of 25 providers this year.
I am particularly pleased to see that the Local Scheme is working very well. It allows providers who cannot register under the National Law to be regulated in a manner similar to the National Law requirements. It has allowed 22 Aboriginal providers to participate who could not otherwise. The Local Scheme has many virtues and can accommodate different kinds of providers in a differentiated property market while allowing tailored regulation, if such is required.
The types of entities achieving registration continues to be diverse. Over half of these organisations provide Affordable Housing, either as their primary focus or as part of a broader service offering. We have observed an increase in the number of community housing properties being regulated by our office in this reporting period rising from 70,775 to over 72,000 properties. The modest increase was impacted by a significant number of National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) properties no longer being regulated by our office as those properties exited the scheme.
With the continued establishment of stand-alone legal entities, known as Special Purpose Vehicles, we expect an increase of community housing properties being regulated by our office over the coming years as a direct result of the Federal Government's recently legislated Housing Australia Future Fund.
Each of the following slides provides insights into the continued growth of the sector and corresponding performance results.
There have been some continuing impacts to certain metrics. In most instances provider performance below threshold is the result of factors outside of a provider’s control such as the age of housing stock or concerns related to specific programs. These issues typically do not represent a compliance concern. For example, in FY24 the assessment process found no instances of non-compliance with “Untenantable Turnaround” times.
The majority of providers are continuing to meet the Registrar's benchmark levels of performance with no significant instances of non-compliance in this reporting period.
Our office will continue to monitor the situation.
Further information about compliance assessments and the work of our office can be found here.
I want to express my gratitude for the ongoing and invaluable contributions from our team, community housing providers, industry leaders, and supporting agencies, including the Housing Agencies. Their efforts ensure that our community housing sector is well governed, well managed, and sustainable, and meeting the housing needs of tenants and providing confidence to the government and other investors in the sector.
As always, I welcome feedback on this report and our performance.
Regards
Chris Valacos
NSW Registrar of Community Housing