Over half of Australian renters feel stuck with no choice but to rent, as 4 in 10 believe they won’t be able to buy a home in the next five years, according to a new survey released today.

As Parliament reconvenes, the nation’s peak housing groups are urging Senators to pass build-to-rent legislation with critical amendments to expand the supply of rental housing.

The joint call from the Property Council of Australia, National Shelter and the Community Housing Industry Association said EY research shows if the legislation passes with proposed changes, 105,000 new homes could be delivered over the next decade, including 10,500 affordable rentals – a significant boost to housing supply during a national crisis.

Over 60 per cent of Australians support the build-to-rent legislation with the industry bodies’ proposed amendments, rising to 71 per cent among renters. Only 13 per cent of respondents opposed the proposal.

The YouGov survey of over 1,500 Australians for the Property Council shows nearly eight in ten Australians feel there is a lack of affordable housing in their area, with housing affordability the second-highest concern among respondents, coming just after cost of living.

The survey comes out as the Australian Government has in front of the Senate a scheme that would allow build-to-rent projects, which are apartments owned and developed specifically for renters, to be invested in as easily as commercial property.

Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the Senate must seize this historic opportunity to address the housing shortage.

Full media release here

The Community Housing Industry Association and Real Estate Institute of Australia are calling
on the Federal Parliament to support Senator David Pocock and Kylea Tink’s Housing and
Homelessness Plan Bill.

The bill would enshrine in legislation the requirement for the Federal Government to produce a
national housing and homelessness plan.

The peak bodies said the legislation is needed to ensure a national housing and homelessness
plan remains in place over multiple election cycles.

“Fixing Australia’s housing crisis absolutely requires a concerted, strategic and nationally led
approach,” said CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst.

“Transforming the housing market will take many years and the institutions that support this
need to survive beyond the current electoral cycle. We must ensure that national leadership
remains in place for years to come.”

REIA interim CEO Maria Edwards said national coordination is an essential step towards fixing
the housing crisis.

“Currently, the fragmentation of responsibilities across multiple government portfolios is causing
inefficiency and delay.

“This bill presents the chance to centralise efforts under one well-resourced entity to ensure a
coordinated, streamlined approach to addressing both the immediate housing crisis and
longer-term needs.”

Wendy Hayhurst and Maria Edwards provided evidence regarding the bill to the Senate
Economics Legislation committee on Tuesday.

Full media release here

The Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) has welcomed the announcement of the first round of commitments from the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), which will see 13,700 social and affordable homes built, housing more than 25,000 Australians in need.

Funded projects will include 4,220 social and 9,522 affordable homes, including 1,267 homes for women and children escaping domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness.

“This announcement demonstrates that the reforms we’ve long advocated are beginning to deliver,” CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said.

“It’s heartening to see the Commonwealth taking decisive action to address Australia’s housing crisis – and not a moment too soon. And, with the funding tap at last beginning to flow, it’s also re-assuring that the government plans a second round of allocations to take place early in the New Year.

Full release here

The first annual review of a groundbreaking Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Reporting Standard for Australian community housing organisations has revealed significant
progress in sustainability practices among early adopters.

The standard, developed in collaboration with SGS Economics and Planning, Paxon Group, and
RITTERWALD, was launched in March 2023 and covers 41 criteria across environmental,
social, and governance dimensions.

Based on reports from 14 community housing organisations, managing around 44,000
properties, the ESG standard is fostering a strong focus on energy efficiency upgrades. Four
community housing organisations reported using quality insulation to address energy efficiency.
All providers relied on a combination of retrofit activities (gas replacements, installation of solar
panels and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems) and policy and design levers to
improve energy efficiency. Organisations also showed a growing emphasis on tenant education
regarding energy conservation and sustainability practices.

Full media release here

The Property Council of Australia together with National Shelter and the Community Housing
Industry Association (CHIA) has expressed disappointment with the latest report of the Senate
Economics Legislation Committee on the build-to-rent legislation inquiry.

CHIA, National Shelter and the Property Council of Australia had made a joint submission to the
Senate Economics Legislation Committee inquiry on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Build to
Rent) Bill 2024, which handed down its report yesterday.

Full media release here

The Community Housing Industry Association has welcomed Scott Langford to the role of chief
executive of Housing Australia.

“Scott Langford is a talented, highly capable executive who will lead Housing Australia with
purpose and intelligence,” said CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst.

“Scott has successfully steered St George Community Housing over the past eight years, with
responsibility for 12,000 people in more than 7,000 homes and a property portfolio worth almost
$4 billion. In addition to this very demanding leadership role, he has provided insight and quality
decision making on numerous sector and industry boards, as well as CHIA’s ESG standard
steering committee.

“Scott is an excellent choice to lead Housing Australia as it works to deliver the Federal
government’s social and affordable rental housing programs and grapple with Australia’s
significant housing challenge.”

CHIA also paid tribute to outgoing CEO, Nathan Dal Bon. “Under Nathan Dal Bon’s leadership, $4.1 billion in long-term loans to 41 community housing providers were approved, supporting over 18,800 new and existing homes. Nathan has been a superb leader who has always been highly responsive and supportive. We wish him the very best.”

Media release here

The Community Housing Industry Association has recognised Julie Collins’ important
achievement in establishing critical new national institutions to tackle the housing crisis, and
also welcomed Clare O’Neil to the portfolio.

“Minister Collins successfully and skillfully guided the establishment of three critically important
national institutions,” said CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst.

“Australia is now much better positioned to take action on the systemic issues underlying the
housing crisis. First the establishment of Housing Australia which has overall responsibility for
delivering the Federal government’s social and affordable rental housing programs. Second, the
Housing Australia Future Fund, the returns from which will support the delivery of social and
affordable housing, and third the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, whose
independent, evidence-based expert advice should strengthen the government’s response.

“These three institutions and the National Housing and Homelessness Plan currently under
development provide strong foundations on which to build, to not only expand the supply of
social and affordable housing but to better balance out the housing system, by ensuring we
have the right homes in the right places, targeted to the people who need them.

“Minister Collins leaves the portfolio with our very warmest wishes. We now look forward to a
strong and co-operative working relationship with Minister O’Neil.”

Full media release here

A Bill introduced by Senator David Pocock and North Sydney MP Kylea Tink to legislate a National Housing and Homelessness Plan is a welcome step to recognising adequate housing as a fundamental human right and creating a more equitable housing system for all Australians, according to the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA), Homelessness Australia, and National Shelter.

The three national peaks have come together to strongly endorse the landmark Bill, which would legally require the Federal Government to develop and maintain a 10-year plan to address Australia’s housing crisis.

Wendy Hayhurst, CEO of CHIA, said: “Mandating a long-term, comprehensive approach to addressing housing affordability and supply issues would allow Australia to move beyond short-term fixes and create lasting solutions. No one pretends this challenge is easy when we are grappling with decades of policy inaction, but a bold initiative like this could just be the circuit-breaker needed to get us onto a better path.”

Full release here

The Community Housing Industry Association has today launched a new set of national
standards to help housing providers respond effectively to domestic and family violence.

The standards include offering victim-survivors the chance to move house where required,
ensuring homes are promptly maintained, and making sure staff are trained in how to work with
victim-survivors and help them access support services.
The standards cover seven areas including:

• Building a skilled workforce
• Facilitating access to support for victim-survivors who are tenants
• Strong access, tenancy management and maintenance practice
• Monitoring of operational performance
• Advocacy and community engagement
• Maintaining and/or expanding housing services to victim-survivors
• Governance

CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst will launch the standards with Justine Elliot MP, Assistant Minister
for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, and community
housing providers in Sydney today.

Full media release here

The Albanese Government’s 24-25 Budget expands capacity to deliver additional social and affordable housing, eases pressure on people struggling with surging rents, and provides welcome and overdue support to young people and women fleeing family violence, the Community Housing Industry Association said. 

“The Budget commitment to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance will provide some relief to Australians grappling with the most brutal rental market in living memory,” CEO Wendy Hayhurst said. 

Full media release here

The Community Housing Industry Association has welcomed the Albanese Government’s 24-25
Budget commitment to housing and homelessness.

CEO Wendy Hayhurst said:

“Australia is grappling with arguably the most difficult housing challenge in a generation.
Additional investment to help women experiencing domestic and family violence is both vital and
welcome – it is not tenable to house people fleeing violence in tents.

“The extra infrastructure funding for social housing in the new five year agreement with the
states is also a very welcome addition.

“In the years ahead we plan to continue working with the Commonwealth to deal with the deep
shortage of social and affordable housing Australia confronts. The current shortfall of 640,000
homes will not resolve itself and there is a pressing case to double the Housing Australia Future
Fund..

Full media release here

A new report shows Australia’s community housing industry continued to expand in the 2021-22
financial year, increasing the supply of much-needed social and affordable rental housing
nationwide. The sector is now providing over 132,000 homes for lower-income households
struggling in the private market.

The 2022 Industry in Profile report, published by the Community Housing Industry Association
(CHIA), provides a detailed look at the size and scope of the not-for-profit community housing
sector. Drawing on data from over 100 of the largest community housing organisations (CHOs),
the report finds:

• Community housing organisations were managing 132,417 social and affordable rental
  homes as of June 2022. This represents an increase of over 10,000 homes compared to
  the previous year.

Full media release cont’d here

CHIA was deeply saddened to learn that Steve Bevington has passed away.

On behalf of CHIA’s staff, CEO and Board we would like to extend our sincere condolences to Steve’s family, friends and all who knew him. Our thoughts are with you.

Steve was one of the original board directors at CHIA. He made an incredible contribution not only to CHIA and its work but to the sector.  CHIA would like to acknowledge his advocacy, profound knowledge and dedication. His passing is a huge loss.

Please read here for a formal announcement from Community Housing Ltd.

An alliance of housing, property and social service organisations is pressing the Albanese
government to significantly amplify its efforts to alleviate the national housing shortage.

The Property Council of Australia, National Shelter, the Housing Industry Association, the
Community Housing Industry Association, ACOSS, Master Builders Australia, and
Homelessness Australia are jointly urging the government to double the Housing Australia
Future Fund to $20 billion in the upcoming budget.

This would be a critical step towards meeting the ambitious target of constructing 1.2 million
new homes by 2029 under the National Housing Accord.

Full media release here

An additional 2,090 homes housing more than 4,000 young people experiencing homelessness could be built by drawing on $1 billion already set aside by the Commonwealth, according to new modelling that was presented to federal politicians in Canberra last week.

The money was allocated last year to the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF) during negotiations between the Greens and the Government over legislation to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund.

Modelling conducted by Professor Laurence Troy, of the Australian Housing and Urban Research
Institute is based on constructing two bedroom dwellings based on building costs in Melbourne’s inner
east and the NSW mid north coast. It assumes a 60/40 split between metro and regional areas with the
units occupied by tenants paying rent set to a maximum of 25% of their income plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance they may be eligible for. The analysis highlights the investment can also include developments of congregate and core and cluster housing.

Full media release here