Future Directions Initiatives
Key initiatives and programs transforming the NSW social housing system.
Management Transfer Program overview
Communities and Justice (DCJ) is transferring the tenancy management of around 14,000 social housing tenancies to community housing providers, including the delivery of private rental assistance products under Housing Pathways. The NSW Government supports the diversity and service delivery of community housing providers and their ability to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Currently almost 19% of social housing properties in NSW are managed by community housing providers. After the implementation of the Social Housing Management Transfer Program, this will change to 32%.
This will help us deliver on the Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW reform program aimed at improving social housing tenant outcomes, announced in January 2016.
Benefits of the Management Transfer program
The NSW Government wants to make sure social housing has a more positive impact on people’s lives. Increasing the management of social housing properties by our community housing partners will:
- make the most of community networks to deliver better long term outcomes for our tenants and applicants
- make the social housing system stronger and more diverse
- access more sources of funding that are available to community housing providers to better support tenants
- build up the skills and size of the community housing sector.
Community housing providers (CHPs)
Nine successful CHPs were selected following a rigorous tender and evaluation process.
Since transfers commenced in October 2018, the CHPs have been focusing on building partnerships with social housing tenants, applicants, local communities and stakeholders to provide housing services and supports that meet the client’s individual housing needs. They have a common goal to make the social housing system more sustainable, diverse and dynamic.
They are registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing Providers and meet national performance standards. They have additional contractual requirements for achieving better outcomes for tenants.
They are also required to link tenants with appropriate local support services as required, based on individual need.
Who will my community housing provider be and when will the management transfers happen?
Here is a summary of transfer locations, successful community housing providers and proposed dates for the transfer of properties to the community housing providers:
Local Government Area | Community housing providers (CHPs) | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|
Maitland and Port Stephens | Hume Community Housing | 2 September 2019 |
Singleton, Cessnock, Dungog, Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook, Upper Hunter | Compass Housing Services | 3 June 2019 |
Gunnedah, Tamworth, Walcha, Liverpool Plains, Armidale Regional, Glen Innes, Gwydir, Guyra, Inverell, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Tenterfield, Uralla | Homes North Community Housing | 6 May 2019 |
Shoalhaven | Southern Cross Housing | 22 October 2018 |
Coffs Harbour, Bellingen | Mission Australia Housing | 1 July 2019 |
Nambucca, Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings | Community Housing Limited | 19 November 2018 |
Ryde, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai | Link Housing | 3 December 2018 |
Northern Beaches and Mosman | Bridge Housing in partnership with the Women’s Housing Company | 5 August 2019 |
North Sydney, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Willoughby | St George Community Housing (SGCH) | 1 April 2019 |
Aboriginal Housing Office tenancies
- The DCJ transfers do not affect AHO tenants.
- You will not have to move, and your rent, terms and length of your lease stay the same.
- DCJ will still manage your lease and put you in touch with the services you need.
- The contact number for repairs will be the same.
- If you have questions, please call your Client Service Officer at DCJ or visit www.aho.nsw.gov.au/tenants
Repairs and maintenance
Community housing organisations are responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the property including organising emergency repairs. Tenants of DCJ owned properties will continue to call the Maintenance Line on 1800 422 322, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you were part of the 2017 management transfers you will continue to call your community housing provider for maintenance.
More information
If you have any questions about the transfers or want to talk to someone, you can:
- Call the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322. This is a free call from landlines, most mobile phones and the phones in your local Department of Communities and Justice housing office
- Speak to your local Department of Communities and Justice client service team
- Read our applicant fact sheet, tenant fact sheet or appeals and reviewing community housing provider decisions fact sheet.