The Community housing sector plays a key role in South Australia supporting more than 14,000 households and providing low income, affordable and Specialist Disability Accommodation.

Community Housing Providers are not-for profit organisations that provide subsidised housing. They have strong links to their community and provide housing to specific groups in the community.

The SA Housing Trust owns or has a financial interest in around 12,000 of those community housing properties through contract and head-lease programs.  These properties are leased to tenants and managed directly by community housing providers. Providers are registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) to ensure the ongoing delivery of quality housing services to those in need.  Community housing providers also access funding through Commonwealth Rent Assistance, Specialist Disability Accommodation grants, and concessional loans from Housing Australia. It is a partnership that ensures the continued growth of social housing in South Australia.

South Australians can access a community house through the single register – when you apply for social housing, you can select an interest in public and/or community housing. There are several  Community housing providers (local and country areas).  To find out if you are eligible for community housing refer to the Community Housing eligibility policy

For tenants, neighbours and the general public

The Office of Housing Regulation (OHR) is an independent business unit within the SA Housing Trust that administers the NRSCH in South Australia under the Community Housing Providers (National Law)(South Australia) Act 2013.  The “Housing Regulator and Registrar” (Registrar) holds the statutory functions and delegations to register, monitor compliance, and investigate complaints about the compliance of registered community housing providers under the Act.

OHR can assist with OHR cannot assist with
information on CHPs complaints/appeals process breaches of tenancy agreement
information on how to resolve maintenance issues SACAT hearings and Orders
information on anti-social behaviour issues disputes between tenants
information on tenancy transfer options disputes related to tenancy transfers
information on rents and rent increases disputes about rent and rent arrears
concerns with timeliness and fairness of CHP’s complaint process outcome evictions
information on the NRSCH and registered CHPs funding arrangements with SAHT
information on applying for registration as a CHP  

Contact us

When the OHR cannot assist with your enquiry, the following organisations may be able to help:

RentRightSA

Consumer and Business Services

South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Provides rental advice and can act as an advocate on your behalf with your CHP

Phone: 1800 060 462

Website: SYC | RentRight SA

Providing renting advice

Phone: 131 882

Website: Consumer and Business Services

Has exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate on disputes between tenants and landlords

Phone: 1800 723 767

Website: South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

If you are a tenant or a neighbour of a property that is managed by a registered Community Housing Provider (CHP), you can lodge a complaint or an appeal with the CHP.

What is a complaint?

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with the standard or type of service provided by a registered community housing provider where a response is sought or reasonably expected.

This includes dissatisfaction with:

  • standard of service
  • actions or decisions
  • inaction or delay
  • policy or processes.

What is not a complaint?

  • an initial request for a service or action including maintenance
  • reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour
  • request for information
  • formal request for a review.

Before making a formal complaint or lodging an appeal with the provider, please take the following steps:

  • Step 1  For maintenance requests, incidents involving anti-social behaviour, or other tenancy related issues, you should firstly contact the Community Housing Provider (CHP) or your Housing Officer.
  • Step 2  If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, or you disagree with the CHP’s decision, please use the CHP’s formal complaints or appeals process (available on the CHP’s website).

Detailed information about the steps you can take to resolve disputes, who else can help, and other options available if the dispute cannot be resolved is provided at:

OHR has no direct role in mediating or resolving neighbourhood disputes or in matters which fall outside the NRSCH.

It is expected that once it is confirmed that the property is a community housing property, that neighbours will raise their concerns directly with the community housing provider responsible for managing that property. It is important for those making a complaint to keep written evidence of their concerns (e.g. SA Police report numbers and a diary of anti-social behaviour incidents) and any ongoing developments, in case the matter is not resolved.

For further information:

Most complainants act reasonably and responsibly in their interactions with the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH), even when they are experiencing high levels of distress, frustration and anger about their complaint. However, in a very small number of cases, complainants may behave in a way that is inappropriate and unacceptable – despite the best efforts to help them. They can be aggressive and verbally abusive towards staff. They may threaten harm and violence, contact the office excessively, make inappropriate demands on time and resources and refuse to accept the outcome and recommendations in relation to their complaints. When complainants behave in this way, we consider their conduct to be ‘unreasonable’.

Unreasonable Complainant Conduct can be divided into five broad categories; Unreasonable persistence, Unreasonable demands, Unreasonable lack of cooperation, Unreasonable arguments and Unreasonable behaviour.

For further information:

Translation services are available

If assistance is required:

For Community Housing providers

The National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) is a regulatory system designed to contribute to a well governed and managed community housing sector, and provide a platform for the ongoing development and viability of the community housing sector across Australia.

The key objectives of the NRSCH are to:

  • provide a consistent regulatory environment to support the growth and development of the community housing sector
  • pave the way for future housing product development
  • reduce the regulatory burden on housing providers working across jurisdictions
  • provide a level playing field for providers seeking to enter new jurisdictions.

For further information:

South Australian community housing organisations wanting to apply for registration under the NRSCH should contact the Office of Housing Regulation (OHR) at OHRcommunityhousing@sa.gov.au ✉

OHR will organise briefings and / or workshops to guide providers through the registration process before scheduling and commencing an application.

Resources available on the National Regulatory System Community Housing website:

The Housing Regulator and Registrar publishes an annual SA Community Housing Performance Report on the performance, viability and regulation of South Australia’s CHPs under the NRSCH.

The reports are available at: