The role of the Registrar of Community Housing
Community housing is a viable and diverse component of the NSW social housing sector.
As of June 2008 community housing in NSW accounts for more than 10 percent of all social housing and assists more than 78,000 people.
This assistance is delivered by almost 380 community housing providers that manage nearly 17,000 properties.
In addition, there are almost 120 organisations that manage over 1000 properties under community leases which are administered by Housing NSW.
In 2007, the NSW Government announced a target for the community housing sector of 30,000 homes over the next 10 years.
Amendments to the Housing Act 2001 (NSW) to create the statutory position of Registrar of Community Housing and the Regulatory Code have strengthened the regulatory framework for community housing providers in NSW.
The amendment provides for:
- the appointment of a Registrar of Community Housing
- the registration of community housing providers
- assistance to registered community housing providers to support the provision of housing for people on very low, low or moderate incomes
- powers to enforce a Regulatory Code in the event of non-compliance, including cancelling the registration of a community housing provider.
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The Registrar of Community Housing is responsible for the registration and regulation of community housing providers in NSW.
The Registrar administers a regulatory code under the Housing Regulation 2009 and an amendment to the Housing Act 2001 (NSW).
The Registrar of Community Housing is an independent statutory officer reporting to the Minister for Housing.
The Registrar's role is to regulate for a sustainable community housing sector in NSW. The Registrar's regulatory platform is determined by the Housing Act 2001 (NSW) and Housing Regulation 2009.
The legislation requires the Registrar to:
- maintain a register of community housing providers
- assess the suitability of organisations to be registered as community housing providers
- register suitable community housing providers
- investigate complaints and other matters involving registered community housing providers
- provide information in relation to community housing
- provide advice to the Minister in relation to community housing and any regulation of the sector
- advise on the matters to be included in a regulatory code for registered community housing providers
- undertake any other function conferred or imposed on the Registrar by legislation.
Following the commencement of the Housing Regulation 2009 on 1 May 2009, all organisations receiving community housing assistance will need to be registered. Transition provisions only apply to:
- Providers registered under the previous Performance Based Registration System (PBRS).
- Providers with a community housing agreement in place before the Housing Regulation 2009 was made.
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Our strategic priorities
The Registrar has three major result areas, each representing a major outcome of its regulatory work.
Result 1: Community housing providers are registered
Result 2: Improved capacity of providers to deliver quality outcomes
Result 3: Improved public and private investor confidence
Our vision
Our vision is to provide assurance for a viable and diverse community housing sector that supports people in need in NSW.
Our values
We share the corporate values of Housing NSW, namely:
- We make a difference
- We help
- We work together
- We are part of the community
We demonstrate these values by ensuring our work, our decisions and our relationships are characterised by:
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Professionalism
- Foresight
- Responsibility
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