What is Community Housing?
In this section
What is Community Housing?
A brief introduction to the sector
Community Housing Frequently Asked Questions
We might just have the answer to one of your questions
Models of Community Housing
Find out what housing might be right for you or your organisation
What is Community Housing?
Community housing is a form of affordable housing working alongside private housing in the open market. Typically, community housing organisations are not-for-profit groups meeting housing need through a range of affordable rental and home ownership options. They provide an alternative to the public housing provided by Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and local authority housing.
Community Housing Organisations provide around 19,300 homes throughout New Zealand.
In your area you will find a range of community housing services. They may be provided by Iwi or Pacific groups, they might provide tenancy advice services, or they might be a local community housing trust. They provide warm, safe, dry, affordable homes through a range of housing options that include: emergency housing, affordable rental or home ownership assistance. Some organisations may provide additional wrap-around support services directly, whilst others ensure links are available as needed for their residents. CHA is the voice for all these kinds of organisations and more.
The Community Housing Regulatory Authority is an independent agency within the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which registers and regulates community housing providers in New Zealand. Organisations which demonstrate the ability to meet the CHRA Performance Standards become registered as a ‘Community Housing Provider’. Since 2014, Registered CHPs have been able to provide homes to those on the Public Housing Register and access the Income Related Rent Subsidy. Other community housing organisation who are not Registered cannot access the IRRS, but still offer other affordable housing options for rent and purchase.
The community housing sector in New Zealand is small compared to other countries and we know there are many New Zealanders who still need access to good housing. Community providers are striving to increase the number of homes available to see all New Zealanders well housed.
Community Housing FAQs
How do I apply for housing?
If you or anyone in your whānau urgently needs a home, please call Work and Income New Zealand on 0800 559 009. You can check out the WINZ website on how to apply for emergency housing or for the social housing register here: WINZ Website. Community Housing Aotearoa represents non-government organisations who also provide affordable housing and you may be able to apply for housing directly through one of our members. A list of our member community housing providers is available in our Members Directory here: CHA Members’ Directory.
What kind of organisation or group is a typical community housing provider?
Typically providers of community housing are:
- independent, not-for-profit organisations reinvesting their profits back into providing housing or housing related services
- part of the communities they work within
- responsive to their tenants and if a registered Community Housing Provider regulated by the Community Housing Regulatory Authority (CHRA)
- providing long-term, affordable and appropriate housing. Continue reading below about the different housing options which CHPs provide.
Who decides on who gets to live in one of the community houses?
Each community housing organisation will have established eligibility criteria for getting into their homes and a system for assessing and ranking applications based on housing need, the types of homes they have and any other objectives outlined by their organisation. Registered Community Housing Providers receive referrals from the Ministry of Social Development’s Social Housing Register for placement into Income Related Rent subsidised homes.
What are the rent charges for community houses?
For affordable rental homes, resident rents are generally set at or below 80% of market rental levels for the area and intended to be around a third of household incomes. Each provider will have its own rent policy and eligibility settings.
For homes provided by Registered Community Housing Providers subsidised by the Income Related Rent subsidy, the tenant portion of the rent will be 25% of the tenant’s income as determined by the Ministry of Social Development.
Models of Community Housing
Affordable Rental – Affordable rentals are provided by community housing organisations for the express purpose to make homes more accessible to individuals and whanāu. Affordable rents are commonly set at less than 80% of market rent in an area.
Public Housing – Public housing is subsidised rental housing receiving the Income Related Rent administered by the Ministry of Social Development with the tenancies managed by Kāinga Ora or registered Community Housing Providers.
Emergency Housing – Temporary accommodation for individuals and families who have an urgent need for accommodation because they have nowhere else to stay, or are unable to remain in their usual place of residence. Eligibility and placements are determined by the Ministry of Social Development
Transitional Housing – Transitional housing is temporary accommodation and support for individuals or families who are in urgent need of housing. It provides warm, dry, short term housing for people and families who have an urgent need for a place to stay. It is intended that families and individuals stay in transitional housing for an average of around 12 weeks. Families and individuals may also receive a further 12 weeks support once they’ve found a more permanent place to live.
Progressive Homeownership – Progressive homeownership programmes move people and whānau out of the long term rental market and into a home of their own.
Shared Equity – Shared equity is a form of PHO where an occupier and community housing organisation jointly purchase a property. An occupier will commonly purchase 60-80% of a property with a community housing organisation owning the remaining shares. An occupier can apply for a mortgage to fund the purchase of their shares and progressively purchase the remaining shares from the organisation in lump sums at the new property value.
Rent to Buy – Rent-to-Buy programmes allow tenants to rent a home at equal- or below- market rent for a specified period while they build the financial capacity to purchase the home either outright or in a shared equity model with a community housing provider or other form of landlord.
Residential Group Housing – Residential Group Housing provides co-housing options for individuals and whānau with unique needs who are assisted with wrap-around services.
License to Occupy – License to Occupy programmes offers tenants the enjoyment of the property without taking any formal ownership of it. License to Occupy models are commonly used on papakāinga or communally held land where tenants may purchase a property but not the land which the property exists on. The tenant has license to occupy the land until they move on where they can sell the property back to the land owners or move the home off the land.
Contact Us
Level 11, Ranchhod Tower
39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay
PO Box 11543
Wellington 6142
04 385 8722
Annual Report
2021/22 CHA Annual Report
Strategic Plan
CHA’s 2022-2023 Strategic Workplan
Case Studies
Monte Cecilia Case Study: Mind-shift essential in re-setting New Zealand’s housing system
Case Study_Monte Cecilia_FINAL
Salvation Army Case Study
CHA_CaseStudy_Salvation Army.pdf
CORT – another example of community housing in your community
CORT CEO Peter Jeffries and tenant Carla Vauvale Forty-three families, who had been on the housing emergency waiting list, are moving into new rental properties this December. These homes were built by non-profit group CORT Community Housing in Papakura, Auckland....
Media Releases
Community Housing Aotearoa-Ngā Wharerau o Aotearoa backs Retirement Commission’s call for affordable housing, calls for Inclusionary Housing to be included in RMA reforms
The report from the Retirement Commissioner today highlights the importance of using the current RMA reforms to provide a nationally-agreed framework for inclusionary housing says Community Housing Aotearoa-Ngā Wharerau o Aotearoa CEO Vic Crockford. The Retirement...
Community Housing Aotearoa-Ngā Wharerau o Aotearoa welcomes new housing regulations and looks forward to providing further input
Today’s announcements from Minister of Housing Dr Megan Woods is a welcome progression on these important measures that Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) has been providing input on for many years. The measures, which include regulation of residential property...
New Development Another Sign That Community Housing Sector Is A Critical Piece To Solving The Housing Puzzle
Community Housing Aotearoa chief executive Vic Crockford wants to applaud CORT Community Housing as it celebrates the opening of the first development of its pipeline of 104 decent, affordable homes in Auckland. “This new housing development, built in partnership with...
Community Housing Aotearoa welcomes further detail on Affordable Housing Fund
Community Housing Aotearoa welcomes the announcement of the Affordable Housing Fund, which will provide much needed capital grants to community housing providers. Community Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive, Vic Crockford says that we need to double down on our efforts...
Organisations Combine To Implore Government To MindTheGap To Help Reduce Poverty
A group of forty New Zealand unions, charities and community groups have joined together to implore Government to change legislation to address New Zealands gender and ethnic pay gaps immediately and help reduce poverty, including Community Housing Aotearoa. Click...
News
Did National really just simply sell off state houses? / The SpinOff
New Zealand has a massive deficit in state housing, but is that all National’s fault? Max Rashbrooke runs the numbers. It has become a truth universally acknowledged, at least on the left, that the last time National was in power, its only interest in state houses lay...
1000 new state homes in Auckland every year is a ‘stretch’, but doable
The country's builders and community housing providers say they are up to the task of fulfilling a rare moment of consensus by Labour, National and the Greens - all pledging to build 1000 state homes a year in Auckland if elected. National deputy leader Nicola Willis,...
Right At Home podcast – Episode 5: Using innovation to build a sustainable future for housing with Rohan Bush
Vic Crockford is joined by Rohan Bush, Director of Building Sustainability, Innovation, and Standards at Kāinga Ora in our fifth podcast episode. Rohan is responsible for the standards to which Kāinga Ora order's public housing is built and for adopting more...
Right At Home podcast – Episode 4: Inclusionary Housing – an affordable housing planning tool
The demand for housing has outstripped supply for many years in Aotearoa, New Zealand. While successive governments have attempted to address the housing shortage, it remains a significant challenge. Overseas and local experience has taught us that opening up land for...
Right At Home podcast – Episode 3: The Case for Universally Designed Housing with Disability Advocate Erin Gough (transcript included)
(Click here for the transcript: EP- 3 The Case for Universally Designed Housing with Disability Advocate Erin Gough transcript) Access to a decent home is a human right. It’s one of the principles in the International Bill of Rights on the Rights of Persons with...
Newsletters
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) – Monthly Newsletter 5 March 2024
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) – Newsletter 5 March 2024
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) – Monthly Newsletter 13 February 2024
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) - Monthly Newsletter 13 February 2024
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) – Monthly Newsletter 15 January 2024
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) Newsletter 15 January 2024
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) Newsletter 12 December 2023
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) Newsletter - 12 December 2023
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) Newsletter, 28 November 2023
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) Newsletter, 28 November 2023
Submissions
CHA’S Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Housing – 2023
CHA'S Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Housing - 2023
CHA’s Submission on Auckland City Council Submission
Click here to view the submission.
CHA’s submission on the Regulation of Methamphetamine Contamination in Residential Housing
CHA drafted a submission on Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's Regulation of Methamphetamine Contamination in Residential Housing. Our submission reflected the feedback from providers following a webinar on 22/03/23. Read the full...
CHA’s Submission on the RBNZ Risk Weighting
CHA delivered this submission to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in response to their consultation on Risk Weights. We have urged the Reserve Bank to work with banks and financial institutions to recognise lending to registered Community Housing Providers as a...
CHA’s Submission on the Natural and Built Environment Bill
CHA has prepared a submission to the Environment Committee on the Spatial Planning Bill currently at the select committee stage at the time of writing. CHA has consistently advocated for Inclusionary Housing (IH) to be enabled through the RMA reforms. We discuss how...
Legislation
Community Housing Regulatory Authority – Board Minutes Article
Community Housing Regulatory Authority - Board Minutes Article
Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) and Tenancy Management Community of Practice Summary
RTA COP May 2021 summary.pdf
Interest deductions on residential property income proposed changes
Interest deductions on residential property income proposed changes.pdf
Bright-line test proposed changes
Bright-line test proposed changes.pdf
RMA Replacement 10 February 2021 FINAL
RMA Replacement 10 February 2021 FINAL.pdf
Reports
Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Act of 2008
Affordable Housing Enabling Territorial Authorities Act FINAL
Is there a place for affordable housing planning requirements in NZ?
IS THERE A PLACE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANNNG REQUIREMENTS IN NEW ZEALAND - Final
CHA 2023 Annual Report and Audited Accounts
CHA_AnnualReport23_Digital
Audited CHA Consolidated Performance Report – 30 June 2023
Audited CHA Consolidated Performance Report - 30 June 2023
CHA 2022 Annual Report and Audited Accounts
What a year for our Community Housing Aotearoa Ngā Wharerau o Aotearoa team. Our Annual Report highlights our service delivery, including: - 16 submissions to central and local government. - 30 trainings and events delivered on topics ranging from public health...
Research
Alternative Housing Tenures – The Opportunity for New Zealand: Research Update 7 System Enablers
Livingston and Associates Ltd (in conjunction with Chris Glaudel from Community Housing Solutions, James Berghan from Otago University and Daniel du Plessis from BRANZ) are currently working on a research project investigating the enablers and barriers impacting on...
Alternative Housing Tenures – The Opportunity for New Zealand: Research Update 6 System Analysis
System Analysis Livingston and Associates Ltd (in conjunction with Chris Glaudel from Community Housing Solutions, James Berghan from Otago University and Daniel Du Plessis from BRANZ) are currently working on a research project investigating the enablers and...
Alternative Housing Tenures – The Opportunity for New Zealand: Research Update 5 Māori Experience
Māori Experiences Livingston and Associates Ltd (in conjunction with Chris Glaudel from Community Housing Solutions, James Berghan from Otago University and Daniel Du Plessis from BRANZ) are currently working on a research project investigating the enablers and...
Alternative Housing Tenures – The Opportunity for New Zealand: Research Update 4 Enablers and Barriers for Affordable Housing
Alternative affordable housing tenure enablers and barriers in a NZ context. Livingston and Associates Ltd (in conjunction with Chris Glaudel from Community Housing Solutions, James Berghan from Otago University and Daniel Du Plessis from BRANZ) are currently working...
Alternative Housing Tenures – The Opportunity for New Zealand: Research Update 3 Renter Housing and Unmet Need
Livingston and Associates Ltd. have been conducting research funded by the Building Research Levy on the opportunity of alternative housing tenures for New Zealand. Research Update 3 titled "Renter Housing Need and Unmet Need" examines the number of households...
Community Housing Aotearoa
Contact Us
Contact Info
Level 11, Ranchhod Tower,
39 The Terrace /
102-112 Lambton Quay
PO Box 11543
Wellington 6142
+04 385 8722