Housing investors and partners - Community Housing Organisations

Effective regulation provides a platform to expand the role of the community housing sector. It establishes the governance infrastructure needed to develop the capacity of the sector; ensure effective, efficient and appropriate use of housing assets; and increase investor confidence to invest in the growth of the sector to deliver more social and affordable housing.

The Community Housing Regulatory Framework (Framework) commenced on 1 April 2017 and is supported by four Appendices and a suite of guidelines and fact sheets.

The Framework is consistent with the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) that applies across all states and territories of Australia, except Victoria and WA. The NRSCH however is a legislated system that administers the Community Housing Providers National Law 2012 and the WA Framework is a policy based system.

​​Community Housing Regulatory Framework​

The Framework’s vision is for a community housing sector that:

• is well governed, well managed and viable
• meets the needs of tenants
• provides assurance to government and investors.

The Community Housing Regulatory Framework and Appendices A, B, C, and D can be found under the Related Information and Documents section below.

​Regulatory Approach

The WA Framework is outcomes focused and adopts a risk-based approach to monitor and respond to risks that have serious consequences for tenants, funders and investors, community housing assets and the reputation of the sector. It is administered by the Community Housing Registration Office, underpinned by a set of regulatory principles that allows for considered, efficient and effective regulatory practices that are proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent, flexible and targeted.

Community Housing Registration Office

The Community Housing Registration Office is managed by the Community Housing Registrar and its regulatory functions include:

• assessing applications for registration from providers
• monitoring the compliance of registered providers with the Framework
• providing information and advice regarding regulatory requirements and processes
• maintaining a register of registered providers.

For further information

Please contact Community Housing Registration Office via registrar@communities.wa.gov.au.

Communities is calling for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and a limited group of others (e.g. Aboriginal Community Housing Organisations and Disability Housing Providers) to apply for the Community Housing Prequalification Scheme.

The Scheme provides a more cohesive and impactful collaboration between the Western Australian Government and the community housing sector, with the aim of providing better social and affordable housing for those in need.

The Community Housing Registration Office maintains a list of providers registered under the Community Housing Regulatory Framework. The register is updated on a regular basis to ensure the most recent information is available for use.

List of Registered Providers under the Community Housing Regulatory Framework​​​​:

The Community Housing Registration Office is committed to supporting and encouraging all community housing providers that are interested in achieving registration under the Framework.

Community housing providers wishing to seek registration under the Framework can apply at any time by contacting the Community Housing Registration Office: email registrar@communities.wa.gov.au.

For general information about the Framework, please refer to the Community Housing Regulation section.

*Category of Enforcement Action

1 - None
2 - Notice of non-compliance issued
3 - Notice of intent to cancel registration
4 - Notice of Cancellation of Registration issued ​​​​​

​Housing Choices Western Australia Ltd was formerly registered as Access Housing Australia Limited.​

Bunbury Housing Association Inc. changed its Category of Registration from Tier 3 to Tier 2 on 9 August 2021.

Cancelled Registrations:

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The Community Housing Registration Office is managed by the Community Housing Registrar. One of its regulatory functions is assessing applications for registration from providers.

Providers will be asked to nominate a staff member to complete the registration process. This person will receive all contact from the Community Housing Registration Office and will be known as the Nominated Main Contact.

This will be the person with access to the online registration system known as Community Housing Regulatory Information System (CHRIS).

Provider secure login to CHRIS

For more information on Community Housing please email

CommunityHousing@communities.wa.gov.au