Community housing

Community housing is social and affordable housing for low to moderate income earners.

To deliver this housing in the Northern Territory (NT), Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development (DHLGCD) works with registered community housing providers who own or manage them.

These providers are generally not-for-profit. They’re also registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) that aims to ensure a well-governed, well-managed and viable sector.

To support their delivery of cost effective housing services, DHLGCD assists them through funding initiatives and policies. They can also access other funding such as:

  • tax exemptions
  • Commonwealth Rent Assistance
  • Specialist Disability Accommodation
  • National Housing Finance Investment Corporation.

History has shown they provide high quality tenancy management and tenant satisfaction, as well as improve neighbourhood amenity and place-making.

They also provide more resources that may not be available in government-managed housing.

NT community housing growth strategy 2022-32

To support the growth of the community housing sector in the NT, DHLGCD has developed the NT community housing growth strategy 2022-32.

This strategy:

  • provides direction and drives growth of the sector for the next 10 years
  • aims to improve socio-economic outcomes for Territorians including tenants and the community
  • includes partnerships with DHLGCD and:
    • the housing and homelessness sector
    • peak bodies
    • non-government organisations
    • disability services
    • land councils.

Get the strategy PDF (1.6 MB).

Community Housing Registrar NT

The Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 (NSW) was enacted on 28 August 2012 and commenced on 1 January 2014.

The Northern Territory commenced participation in the National Regulatory Scheme Community Housing (NRSCH) on 22 January 2014, with the passing of the Community Housing Providers (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 (NT) (NT Law).

The Community Housing Registrar NT (Registrar) is a statutory officer established under section 9(2) of the NT Law. The Registrar’s functions and delegations are also captured under this legislation.

The object of the Registrar’s role is to ensure the national system of registration, monitoring and regulation (NRSCH) of community housing is regulated in the NT.

The Registrars’ activities are limited to that of a regulatory nature and policy and funding decisions remain a matter for State, Territory and Federal governments decision-making to meet localised housing needs.

Primary objective

The NRSCH seeks to ensure a well governed and well managed, viable community housing sector that meets the housing needs of tenants and provides assurance for government and investors.

Community housing

Community Housing in the Northern Territory is secure, affordable, long term housing managed by non-government organisations for people on very low, low or moderate incomes, or for people with additional needs.

Ms Wendy Morton was appointed to the role of Northern Territory Community Housing Registrar in July 2021.

Wendy has lived in the NT for more than 25 years and spent a significant period of that time working for non-government organisations. Wendy has been involved in advocacy, strategic decision-making and policy development on a range of issues impacting on vulnerable groups including during her time as Executive Director of the NT Council of Social Service. Wendy has also worked as a consultant and is a member of several NTG advisory groups.

Wendy is supported by a part-time staff member seconded from Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development.

The Registrar seeks to meet regularly and communicate with stakeholders, to build trust through engaging genuinely and being transparent, and to build an understanding of community housing regulatory issues in the Northern Territory.

The Registrars’ direct engagement with stakeholders is supplemented by regular meetings with the housing sector, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development and other interested parties.

Forms

TaskResources
Apply Registration

Other resources

TaskResources
Comply fact sheet Compliance process
Comply provider guides Evidence guidelines
Comply tier guidelines Standard compliance assessment

Complaint handling for community housing providers

Complaint handling for neighbours and tenants

Complaints about the Community Housing Registrar

For complaints about public sector agencies and their staff, including the Community Housing Registrar, contact Ombudsman NT.

NT Community Housing Annual Report

NRSCH Annual Report

The NRSCH Annual Reports can be found on their website under Publications & Reports / NRSCH Reports.

Contact us

Office of the Community Housing Registrar NT
RCG Centre, 47 Mitchell Street, Darwin NT 0800
GPO Box 4621, Darwin  NT 0801
Phone: 08 8999 8521Email: nrsch.dhlgcd@nt.gov.au

Registered community housing providers

There are 15 community housing providers in the NT registered with the NRSCH.

For more information on the performance of providers, read the NRSCH annual overview 2023-24.

Community housing provider Tier of registration
Aboriginal Community Housing Limited Tier 1
Aboriginal Enterprises Australia Tier 3
Anglicare NT Ltd Tier 3
Anindilyakwa Housing Aboriginal Corporation Tier 2
CatholicCare NT Resources Limited Tier 2
Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA) Tier 2
Community Housing Limited Tier 1
Mission Australia Housing Northern Territory Tier 1
Ngurratjuta Wanka Wilurratja / Alturia Rinya Aboriginal Corporation (NWWAR) Tier 3
St. Vincent De Paul Housing NT Ltd Tier 2
The Salvation Army Housing Tier 2
Top End Association for Mental Health Inc Tier 3
Venture Housing Company Tier 1
Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation Tier 2
YWCA Tier 3

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