NSW Local Scheme

Legislation and intent

In October 2016, NSW Parliament enacted an amendment to the Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 (NSW) to establish a local system of registration, monitoring and regulation of entities that provide community housing but are unable to be registered under the National Law.

In August 2017, under section 25A of the Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 (NSW) - the Act - the Minister for Families and Communities directed the Registrar of Community Housing to commence the NSW local registration system - known as the NSW Local Scheme - that:

as far as reasonably practicable, is consistent with the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH)
does not include the ‘wind-up’ condition of registration under the Act, whilst ensuring that any assets or assistance provided by the NSW Government are appropriately protected
initially focuses on registering NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs).

Eligibility

There is no legal obligation for organisations to be registered under the NSW Local Scheme, however under section 15 (3) of the Act:

assistance in the form of housing, land or funding is not to be given to a community housing provider unless the provider is registered under the NRSCH or the NSW Local Scheme, and
assistance may be withdrawn from a community housing provider that ceases to be registered.

In addition, individual government policy and funding agencies may make registration a precondition for the provision of funding or for delivering funded housing services including for affordable housing.

Under the current directive, NSW local registration is open to any organisation that meets the requirements of the NSW Local Scheme, including:

incorporation as a NSW Local Aboriginal Land Council
having in place processes that give the Registrar assurance that in the event of wind-up and/or deregistration, assets or assistance provided by the NSW Government are appropriately protected
having a demonstrated capacity to meet and achieve ongoing compliance with the NSW Local Scheme Regulatory Code
provides or intends to provide community housing services.

NRSCH consistency

While there are differences in the eligibility requirements between the NSW Local Scheme and the NRSCH, there is consistency in the regulatory approach between the two systems. Both systems share the same vision of a well governed, well managed and viable community housing sector that meets the housing needs of tenants and provides assurance for government.

NSW Local Scheme Regulatory Code

The NSW Local Scheme Regulatory Code is aligned to the NRSCH’s National Regulatory Code. The NSW Local Scheme Regulatory Code sets out the performance outcomes and requirements that registered NSW Local Scheme community housing providers must comply with. The NSW Regulatory Code does not prescribe how providers should run their businesses; rather, it focuses on the achievement of outcomes in the following areas:

Tenant and housing services
Housing assets
Community engagement
Governance
Probity
Management
Financial viability

Capacity building

The requirements of the NSW Local Scheme are rigorous and ongoing. The Registrar conducts a thorough examination of an applicant’s governance, management, probity, tenancy and asset management, community engagement, and financial viability and sustainability.

Noting that most NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils have not participated in a regulated community housing sector, the Registrar will provide guidance on capacity building avenues to LALCs (and other eligible providers) that lodge an interest in the local registration system to assist with registration under the NSW Local Scheme.

If significant areas for improvement are evident and required in any provider’s performance to meet the NSW Local Scheme Regulatory Framework, the provider may be invited by the Registrar to first address the identified areas and attempt registration at a later date.

Information access and sharing

The information access and sharing principles of the NSW Local Scheme conform to those of the NRSCH. The Registrar will provide guidance and information specific to the NSW Local Scheme.

Enquiries and information

More information about the NSW Local Scheme is available in the Guidance tab where there is a range of documents that will assist applicants, including the NSW Local Scheme Charter and the Regulatory Framework.

The NRSCH website also has a range of documents that may be of assistance at www.nrsch.gov.au

The Registrar’s office can be contacted on 1800 330 940 or by email at registrar@homes.nsw.gov.au