Eligibility criteria

Before applying for registration

You will need to discuss potential registration within your organisation, obtain the support of the Board to apply, and consider the appropriate organisational structure, tenant cohort and the ongoing financial viability of the CHP, before contacting CHRA. All applicants must be legally established entities, prior to lodging any application.

While we recognise registration may confer other benefits to organisations outside of receiving Income-Related Rental Subsidy (IRRS), the intention of registration is to support the growth of a fair, efficient and transparent community housing sector. If an applicant does not have a housing strategy that includes delivering social housing within the next 1–2 years, we would encourage the applicant to consider if registration is right for them at this time. Partnering with an existing CHP may be a good option for your organisation.

Community Housing Aotearoa or Te Matapihi may also be able to help you decide whether registration is the right pathway for your organisation.

Here are some additional resources that might help you decide if registration is right for your organisation:

Performance standards and guidelines set out the performance standards that must be met and the supporting documentation that all applicants need to provide.
Guidance notes explain specific regulatory requirements and how to meet them.
The Public Housing Plan(external link) which will help you understand how your organisation might contribute to the broader housing system by providing housing of the type and in the locations desired by the Government.

Before you apply, we encourage you to discuss your housing plans with the funding teams at HUD. This will help you determine if your project is likely to attract public funding. You can contact the Housing Supply team at public_housing_panel_procurement@hud.govt.nz.

To be eligible to register as a Community Housing Provider (CHP), you must meet our eligibility criteria and show that your organisation can meet the Performance Standards. To maintain registration, you must continue to demonstrate that you meet the Performance Standards. These standards provide the Government with an assurance that community housing tenants are housed appropriately, and their rights are protected.

To be eligible for registration as Class 1: Social Landlord:

You must be a housing provider with the objective of providing community rental housing and/or affordable rental housing or have detailed plans to provide long-term housing.
Your governing body must, after reviewing the performance standards and guidelines, support the application for registration.
CHRA must be satisfied that you have the capacity to meet, and maintain compliance with, the performance standards.

Exclusions from registration

The following organisations are currently excluded from registration as a Class 1: Social Landlord.

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities.
Local authorities and council-controlled organisations. A subsidiary of a local authority or council-controlled organisation may apply to register, so long as it is operating at arm’s length from the local authority. The subsidiary must be genuinely operating independently for instance, not part of the local authority’s corporate structure. This should be evident from the constitution, membership of the governing body, and governance and financial management structures. There should not be any agreements or financial arrangements in place that would prevent the CHP from acting independently, in its own best interest.

Encouraging diversity

CHRA welcomes applications from providers serving diverse communities, such as Māori and Pasifika providers, or providers serving specific tenant groups.

The same performance standards and guidelines apply to all applicants, but registered CHP status is not a ‘one size fits all’ system.

For example, CHRA welcomes discussion with aspiring Māori CHPs to understand how their tikanga and organisational approach inform their organisational policies and processes and how they can meet the required performance standards.