Manage affordable rental housing

Managing affordable housing involves the standard property and tenancy management requirements of managing any rental housing. However, it also involves additional responsibilities around assessing eligibility, setting rent, letting properties to eligible households and meeting the requirements of the relevant affordable housing program.

In general, managing affordable housing involves:

• determining household eligibility for affordable housing properties
• establishing and implementing affordable housing rent policy
• finding eligible tenants, managing applications and assessments and allocating properties
• managing tenancies, including collecting rent and maintaining properties
• reviewing eligibility and managing a tenant’s exit if they are no longer eligible to stay in the property.

If you are managing affordable housing properties which were acquired or developed using government funds or benefits or through the Housing SEPP, you will need to meet the requirements associated with that funding, benefit or legislation. These requirements will be outlined in funding contracts and/or in government endorsed guidelines such as the NSW Affordable Housing Ministerial Guidelines PDF, 14062.98 KB and include criteria such as which households are eligible, how rents should be set and what information needs to be provided to the funding body.

The NSW Affordable Housing Ministerial Guidelines 2023/24 are being reviewed and the updated Guidelines will be available to download in 2025. Until the new Guidelines 24/25 are released please continue to refer to the NSW Affordable Housing Ministerial Guidelines 2023-24 for operational policy guidance, including information on allocations, rent setting, rent review, tenure, eligibility assessment, financial management and reporting.

Please note that the income eligibility limits for 2024-25 have been updated in the interim for assistance in calculating income eligibility and ongoing eligibility. They are now available for separate download.

• NSW Affordable Housing Ministerial Guidelines 2023-24, English PDF, 14062.98 KB
• Appendix - Household income eligibility limits for affordable housing 2024/25 PDF, 155.32 KB

Requirements may differ from program to program according to contractual arrangements, and your responsibilities will vary depending on whether you own the property or are managing it on behalf of, or in partnership with, another organisation.

All tenancy managers of affordable housing in NSW must comply with the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.

For more information about affordable housing, or if you have a question, contact us at CAH@homes.nsw.gov.au.