Housing initiatives and strategies

Public housing safety officers

Public housing safety officers work with tenants, neighbours and visitors to investigate, respond to and reduce antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs and Darwin public housing.

Red card policy

The red card policy scores the type and seriousness of antisocial behaviour in terms of demerit points. Tenants that are regular offenders will have demerit points issued to them and if they reach six demerit points may be evicted.

Visitor management policy

This policy gives tenants the support they need to manage their visitors and maintain their private space.

Acceptable behaviour agreements

This is a written agreement that the tenant has with the department not to engage in antisocial behaviour in or near the property.

Housing and Police working together

The department and the NT Police have an agreement to work closely together in regard to antisocial behaviour in and around public housing properties.

Read more about safety and antisocial behaviour in public housing on the Northern Territory Government website.

If you are currently, working and living in the Northern Territory the Affordable Housing Scheme provides rental options for those in key service industries.

For more information and to find out if you are eligible to apply, go to Northern Territory Government website.

For renters

There are a number of initiatives open to people renting in the NT.

Head-leasing initiative

This program provides NT Government backed head leases over privately owned dwellings, which are then rented to key service industry workers at 30% below market rates.

More information about the head-leasing initiative, including criteria can be found on the Northern Territory Government website.

National Rental Affordability Scheme

Provides affordable rentals to eligible low income earners at no more than 80% of market rates.

Venture Housing Company

Provides affordable rental housing for low to moderate income earners in the Territory who are unable to afford private rents and may not qualify for public housing.

For buyers

The NT Government is encouraging home ownership through initiatives, such as the:

Home Buyers Initiative

Provides opportunities for eligible NT residents to purchase their own land at affordable price points.

HomeBuild Access

Provides low deposit and low interest loans, targeted at new dwellings, eligible to NT residents.

Find out more about HomeBuild Access initiatives.

Community housing is social and affordable housing for low to moderate income earners.

To deliver this housing in the Northern Territory (NT), Territory Families, Housing and Communities (TFHC) works with registered community housing providers who own or manage them.

These providers are generally not-for-profit. They’re also registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) that aims to ensure a well-governed, well-managed and viable sector.

To support their delivery of cost effective housing services, TFHC assists them through funding initiatives and policies. They can also access other funding such as:

• tax exemptions
• Commonwealth Rent Assistance
• Specialist Disability Accommodation
• National Housing Finance Investment Corporation.

History has shown they provide high quality tenancy management and tenant satisfaction, as well as improve neighbourhood amenity and place-making.

They also provide more resources that may not be available in government-managed housing.

NT community housing growth strategy 2022-32

To support the growth of the community housing sector in the NT, TFHC has developed the NT community housing growth strategy 2022-32.

This strategy:

• provides direction and drives growth of the sector for the next 10 years
• aims to improve socio-economic outcomes for Territorians including tenants and the community
• includes partnerships with TFHC and:
  • the housing and homelessness sector
  • peak bodies
  • non-government organisations
  • disability services
  • land councils.

Get the strategy PDF (1.6 MB).

Registered community housing providers

There are 15 community housing providers in the NT registered with the NRSCH.

For more information on the performance of providers, read the NRSCH annual overview 2021-22.

The Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 (NSW) was enacted on 28 August 2012 and commenced on 1 January 2014.

About the National Regulatory Scheme Community Housing (NRSCH)

The Northern Territory commenced participation in the National Regulatory Scheme Community Housing (NRSCH) on 22 January 2014, with the passing of the Community Housing Providers (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 (NT) (NT Law).

The Community Housing Registrar NT (Registrar) is a statutory officer established under section 9(2) of the NT Law. The Registrar’s functions and delegations are also captured under this legislation.

The object of the Registrar’s role is to ensure the national system of registration, monitoring and regulation (NRSCH) of community housing is regulated in the NT.

The Registrars’ activities are limited to that of a regulatory nature and policy and funding decisions remain a matter for State, Territory and Federal governments decision-making to meet localised housing needs.

Primary objective

The NRSCH seeks to ensure a well governed and well managed, viable community housing sector that meets the housing needs of tenants and provides assurance for government and investors.

Community housing

Community Housing in the Northern Territory is secure, affordable, long term housing managed by non-government organisations for people on very low, low or moderate incomes, or for people with additional needs.

Community Housing Registrar NT

Ms Wendy Morton was appointed to the role of Northern Territory Community Housing Registrar in July 2021.

Wendy has lived in the NT for more than 25 years and spent a significant period of that time working for non-government organisations. Wendy has been involved in advocacy, strategic decision-making and policy development on a range of issues impacting on vulnerable groups including during her time as Executive Director of the NT Council of Social Service. Wendy has also worked as a consultant and is a member of several NTG advisory groups.

Wendy is supported by a part-time staff member seconded from Territory Families, Housing and Communities.

Engagement

The Registrar seeks to meet regularly and communicate with stakeholders, to build trust through engaging genuinely and being transparent, and to build an understanding of community housing regulatory issues in the Northern Territory.

The Registrars’ direct engagement with stakeholders is supplemented by regular meetings with the housing sector, the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities and other interested parties.

Application for registration and compliance

Forms

Other resources

Complaints and appeals

Complaint handling for community housing providers

• Complaints management

Complaint handling for neighbours and tenants

• Making a complaint in the NT PDF (80.3 KB)
• Making a complaint
• Lodging a complaint with a community housing provider
• Information for neighbours and related parties

Complaints about the Community Housing Registrar

For complaints about public sector agencies and their staff, including the Community Housing Registrar, contact Ombudsman NT.

Annual report

The NRSCH Annual Reports can be found on their website under the Publications & Reports / NRSCH Reports tab:

• Part 1 - NRSCH Annual Overview 2021-2022
• Part 2 - NRSCH Regulators performance annual overview
• Part 3 - NRSCH Annual Overview 2021-2022
• Part 4 - NRSCH Annual Overview 2021-2022.

Community Housing Registrar’s office

• Contact NRSCH

Contact us

Office of the Community Housing Registrar NT
RCG Centre, 47 Mitchell Street, Darwin NT 0800
GPO Box 4621, Darwin  NT 0801
Phone: 08 8999 8521Email: nrsch.tfhc @nt.gov.au

To keep houses safe, it is important that they are maintained and repaired as quickly as possible, when required.

The Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities is currently responsible for repairs and maintenance of remote public housing.

The department has engaged contractors to deliver tenancy management, and repairs and maintenance services, in remote communities. For minor repairs and maintenance items that do not need a qualified tradesman such as a plumber or electrician, there are currently housing maintenance officers.

Housing inspections are conducted each year by tenancy contractors, repairs and maintenance contractors and the department.

From 1 July 2021, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics will be undertaking Housing Maintenance Services on behalf of the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities.

A new Housing Maintenance Services model will be phased in following the transition, which will include a dedicated contractor for a community, or cluster of communities, who will allocate the works accordingly.  It is important to note that staff will not be required to relocate under the arrangements.

You will be advised before any changes are made to the way you report any repairs and maintenance issues.

You can continue reporting repairs and maintenance issues to your local housing maintenance officer or the local community housing officer. Alternatively you can contact the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities.

If something breaks or stops working you should report it straight away.

Some things will be fixed more quickly than others. Things that are dangerous will be repaired as a priority such as:

• blocked toilets, blocked drains, or sewage leaks
• leaking water mains and pipes
• exposed electrical wires
• gas leaks.

You should also report things like:

• dripping taps or taps that are tight to turn
• stove elements that are not working
• fans that are not working properly
• power points that are not working.

The sooner you report the item to your housing officer, the sooner it can be fixed.

You can read about repairs and maintenance, on the Northern Territory Government website.

Learn more about the National Partnership on Remote Housing.

Public housing tenants who take pride in their house and yard are being rewarded for their efforts.

Formerly known as the Public Housing Garden Competition, the Pride in your Place awards are open to all public housing tenants in urban and remote areas of the Northern Territory.

Tenants are eligible to win a monthly prize of a $200 gift voucher and a certificate signed by the Minister for Housing and Homelands.

The monthly awards are designed to recognise and thank tenants who look after their garden and maintain their property.

Tenants can be nominated any time during the year by a staff member from Territory Families, Housing and Communities.

So whether a tenant has an arid garden, their fruit trees are at their best in the wet, or their pot plants are in top shape in the dry - any public housing tenant is in with a chance to be one of our monthly winners.

To find out more, contact your local housing tenancy officer.

The Northern Territory Government (NTG) is redeveloping the public housing complex on Shiers Street in The Narrows in partnership with the community housing sector.

The NTG has invested $14 million to start the process of transforming this legacy site into a modern, fit for purpose precinct with a mix of social and affordable housing.

The new housing will be designed to promote liveability in tropical climatic conditions, improve the look and features of the neighbourhood and make living in the area more enjoyable for tenants and residents.

A market sounding process was undertaken in partnership with community housing providers, developers and financial institutions to inform redevelopment options for Shiers Street. View the market sounding report PDF (1.0 MB) for a summary of the feedback received.

For more information on the sites redevelopment visit the DIPL Project Page.

We are expanding social housing stock and safeguarding a sacred site in Alice Springs through the recent acquisition of St Mary's Hostel.

There are no immediate plans for redevelopment of the site however, we will ensure any future development honours the historical and cultural importance of the site and the chapel.

Statement of Intent

This is a Statement of Intent - between the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities and the Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory - to ensure the preservation of, and future access to, the St Mary's Hostel chapel located at 311 Stuart Highway

The two parties are aware of the local interest in the future of the chapel and the desire for the community to have ongoing access to the chapel.

We share a determination to honour the request of former residents of the Hostel, including stolen generations survivors, who wish for the chapel to be preserved.

We are committed to maintaining the chapel as a focal point for the community.

We are committed to providing reasonable access to the chapel, by negotiation, for the purposes of healing and cultural, religious and community events.

This statement of intent is intended to be a show of good will to the community who have an interest in 311 Stuart Highway, that their wishes for the chapel have been heard.

Accordingly, we commit:

• to ensure that the Northern Territory Government services provided at 311 Stuart Highway will not impact the built environment of the chapel, nor impede reasonable access.
• the Anglican Diocese commits the allocation of up to 10 per cent of tbe sale amount to memorialising the legacy of the St Mary's site, in collaboration with former residents; this could include supporting and preserving the history of the chapel.
• to a rigorous and robust process, including a community voice, to support the current Heritage process looking at declaring the St Mary's Hostel chapel as a Heritage Place.
• to working closely with the St Mary's Stolen Generation Group about future development of 311 Stuart Highway.

Download Statement of Intent - St Mary’s Hostel Chapel PDF (204.0 KB)