Today’s National Cabinet package of planning and rental reforms are a step in the right direction towards tackling the housing crisis, particularly the breakthrough on inclusionary zoning, according to peak housing advocacy bodies Community Housing Industry Association and National Shelter.

The package of reforms unveiled this afternoon includes: “Consideration of the phased introduction of inclusionary zoning and planning to support permanent affordable, social and specialist housing in ways that do not add to construction costs.”

The package also includes some notable reforms to improve renters’ rights, including moving towards a “national standard of no more than one rent increase per year for a tenant in the same property across fixed and ongoing agreements.”

“Inclusionary zoning promises to be a real policy breakthrough,” said Wendy Hayhurst, CEO of CHIA. “It should ensure that new housing developments include a percentage of social and affordable homes, significantly expanding housing options for people on low and modest incomes. The particularly great thing about it is that it’s not a tax on development – the ‘cost’ is baked into the price paid for the land.”

Full media release here