Homeless or at risk of homelessness?
Call the free, 24-hour crisis line on 1800 825 955.
Community housing is secure, affordable rental housing provided to people on low to moderate incomes who need housing.
Unlike public housing, it is managed by not-for profit social housing organisations rather than government. Community housing providers are registered and highly-regulated by the State Government.
Need emergency housing?
Escaping domestic violence?
Call the free, 24-hour Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
on 1800 015 188.
89.5%
Tenant satisfaction
86%
Of complaints resolved within 30 days
87%
Tenants satisfied with landlord services
91%
Urgent repairs completed within 24 hours
Apply for community housing
The new Victorian Housing Register is now handling all applications for social housing (public and community housing) and if you have previously registered with an organisation your details should be transferred over. However, if you are unsure if you have made an application, you can contact the housing call centre on 13 11 72 to confirm.
If you need to make a new application, you have three options:
- complete an online application through myGov
- download a paper application from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
- apply via a DHHS support agency
Common queries
How does community housing differ from public housing?
Community Housing is generally locally-managed and more responsive to tenants. In addition to tenancy and asset management, community housing offers a range of other community activities and provides opportunities for tenants to be participate in the running the organisation.
How much do tenants pay?
Rents charged by community housing organisations for low income tenants are generally required to be no more than 25 or 30 per cent of the combined gross incomes of all members of the household, plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance to which the tenant is entitled.
Most community housing organisation also apply a maximum rent which is based on the property, market conditions or benchmarks set by the ATO for charitable bodies. For tenants on moderate incomes, there is flexibility for community housing to adopt different approaches, such as basing rents on a discount to market rental.
There are some differences in the approach to rent-setting between organisations, and even within housing programs offered by larger community housing organisations. This also reflects that community housing is intended as a diverse provider model which responds to the needs of particular tenants and communities. For this reason it is best to check with each organisation about their rent policy and how it applies to a particular tenancy. See the Housing Registrar’s website for further information on rent setting.
What rights do tenants have?
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, community housing tenants must sign a lease with the community housing provider. The lease outlines the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and tenant. Tenants have the same rights under the Residential Tenancies Act as public housing tenants and private tenants.
Who looks after maintenance?
In most cases community housing organisations look after day-to-day maintenance and organise to carry out repairs. A recent tenant satisfaction survey showed that nearly 74 per cent of community housing tenants in Victoria were satisfied with the condition of their home.
Who is eligible?
The eligibility criteria for community housing are usually the same as for public housing, with some differences for community housing organisations who specialise in areas such as disability or Aboriginal housing.
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How can tenants complain about their community housing?
Under the Housing Act 1983 all community housing organisations must have complaints procedures. Usually, community housing tenants will take their complaint to their housing provider via a staff member or the Board of Directors.
For some issues, in particular tenancy or property management issues, tenants can take their complaint to the Housing Registrar.
For appeals against some decisions made by the community housing provider, tenants are able to apply to have the matter heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Meet our Tenants
Frank
Five years ago Frank was one of the first to move in to the newly-built award winning apartment complex in Altona. The complex consists of 69 affordable units and is managed by Unison.
Sonya
Sonya lived in emergency housing in Mt Waverley before moving into her Aboriginal Housing home in Boronia. Sonya is guardian to her sister Lisa’s two young girls, and has two adult sons of her own, one who lives in far North Queensland and another who lives close by.
Aman
Aman Thiep spoke only Dinka and Arabic when she arrived in Australia from Africa. Now, the bright 19-year-old is studying bio-medical science at Deakin University.