Developing affordable housing
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New National Housing Initiatives
The Australian Government launched in July 2008 a National Rental Affordability Scheme, which aims to increase the supply of affordable rental housing by 50,000 dwellings across Australia by 2012.
The scheme offers investors financial incentives to build new affordable rental properties in high need areas. The Australian Government has called for expressions of interest from investors interested in the scheme, with the first round of submissions closing in early September 2008.
All enquiries for the scheme should be directed to the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs on 1800 334 505. Further information, including application guidelines, application form, program guidelines and a set of questions and answers about the scheme, is available by clicking on the National Rental Affordability Scheme link under ‘Housing’ at www.fahcsia.gov.au.
The Queensland Government, through the Department of Housing, is working with the Australian Government on delivering the scheme in Queensland. A 
fact sheet (27Kb) outlining the Queensland’s Government’s role in the National Rental Affordability Scheme is available for further information.
A data package with information on the Queensland housing market is also available to assist investors in their preparation of applications to the National Rental Affordability Scheme.
Designing and Delivering Affordable Housing
The department has developed a range of tools to assist developers, providers and local governments in providing affordable housing. Local government has a critical role in facilitating the provision of affordable housing by the private and not-for-profit sector.
These tools comprise the following components:
- Benchmark Affordable Housing Rent Guide — a guide to what people on very low and low incomes should be paying for rents to be considered ‘affordable’.
- Affordable Housing Design Guidelines — guidance on design characteristics and planning principles for new affordable housing construction.
- Affordable Housing Statutory Covenant — the department is developing an example of a type of agreement that provides certainty for the parties involved in approving, delivering, managing and investing in affordable housing.
- State Planning Policy 2007: (1.3Mb) Housing and residential developments which require high growth local governments to identify the housing needs of their community, and, if necessary, to modify their planning schemes to remove barriers to, and provide opportunities for, a range of housing options that respond to the housing needs of the community.
Last updated 22 August 2008
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