Australian Capital Territory
Housing Assistance (Community Housing Providers) Standards 2009 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2009–215
made under the  
Housing Assistance Act 2007, s 25I (Community housing providers- standards)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

An ACT regulatory framework for not for profit housing providers was introduced through amendment to the Housing Assistance Act 2007 (the Act).  The regulatory powers are vested in the Commissioner for Social Housing (the Housing Commissioner) as established in the Act. The amendment to the Housing Assistance Act 2007 commenced on 2 March 2009.

The framework empowers the Housing Commissioner to register, monitor the activities of, intervene in the activities of and de-register housing providers.  

The Housing Assistance Act 2007 (the Act) provides for the Housing Commissioner to determine standards for a community housing provider. The determination is a Disallowable Instrument.

Following is a description of the Standards:

Clause	Provision	
1 and 2	Name of instrument and commencement date specified.	
3	Object of the standards specified.	
4	Specifies that Community Housing providers must comply with these standards.	
5 	Specifies definitions relating to the standards.	
6 	Describes the standards, which refer to:
1.	tenancy management;
2.	tenant rights and participation in the general management of community housing provision;
3.	governance and organisational management;
4.	finance; and
5.	management systems, including human resource management.

Clause 6 also refers to the need for a Community Housing provider to supply the Housing Commissioner with evidence to demonstrate that the standards have been satisfied and states that the indicators provided are not to be taken to be measures of compliance of themselves.