Community housing is infrastructure the Territory needs.

Community Housing Providers (CHPs) house the nurses, teachers, aged care workers and tradespeople who keep the Territory running — and they support Territorians who need a stable home to get their lives back on track.

The Northern Territory has one of the most complex housing systems in Australia. Darwin is the second most expensive city in the country in which to rent a house. Key workers leave because they cannot find affordable housing. Families on low incomes face a system under real pressure. CHPs are the part of that system that makes a difference — independent, regulated, not-for-profit organisations delivering housing where the private market cannot.

What is community housing?

Community housing is housing provided by CHPs for two groups of people:

Social housing renters — people on low incomes or in housing need, including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Key workers in affordable housing — workers on modest incomes who make the Territory function but cannot compete in Darwin’s private rental market.

CHPs are independent, regulated, not-for-profit organisations that manage social and affordable housing in the Territory. They are not government agencies and they are not private landlords. They are part of the housing system specifically designed to house people that the private market cannot reach.

Community housing is nationally regulated through the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH). All CHPs in the NT are registered, independently assessed and subject to ongoing compliance requirements.

Why it matters in the Territory

The NT’s housing system faces challenges unlike any other jurisdiction in Australia. The scale of need, the cost of construction, the remoteness of some communities and the complexity of demand all create a system under genuine pressure.

CHPs are part of how that pressure is managed, not by solving every problem, but by delivering stable housing for people who need it most.

The numbers tell part of the story:

0 %

Social & affordable housing share of NT market

2 nd

Most expensive capital to rent a house (Darwin)

Australia is short social and affordable homes a year

~ 0

NT community housing homes in housing pipeline

But behind every number is a person: a nurse who stayed because they found somewhere to live, a family that didn’t end up in a crisis shelter, a young person who kept their job because their tenancy was supported.

Where Community Housing Providers fit

The NT housing system runs from crisis accommodation at one end to private home ownership at the other. CHPs sit in the middle of that continuum, providing stable, long-term housing for people who have moved out of crisis accommodation but cannot yet access or afford private rental.

CHPs work alongside government, homelessness services, health providers, and support organisations. They are not the whole system. But they are a critical part of it and the part best placed to provide sustained support, early intervention, and tenant engagement.

The NT Government’s Housing Strategy sets out key pillars for a stronger housing system. Community housing providers are delivery partners across all pillars.

Responsibility and accountability

CHPs have clear responsibilities to their renters, to neighbours, and to the communities they operate in. When issues arise, including antisocial behaviour, there are processes for responding, escalating, and resolving them.

For information on how CHPs manage antisocial behaviour, how complaints are handled, and what steps you can take if you have a concern, visit our Community Information page.