Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Community Housing

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As bushfires escalate across Australia and the country falls significantly short of the targets set by other developed nations, <a href="/news/how-will-australians-live-over-the-next-decade-stockland-research">concerns about climate change</a> and the environment is undoubtedly <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org.au/media/media-releases/leading-agencies-address-climate-crisis" target="_blank">Australia's most pressing issue</a>. 
<h2>Rethinking the residential sector </h2>
The residential sector in Australia, as with other countries, is a significant contributor of overall environmental impact including greenhouse gas emissions and material consumption.
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421519303878?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">Recent research </a>has found that over 80 per cent of detached housing in Australia is only built to the minimum regulatory requirements which is currently 6.0 stars on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, with less than 15 per cent built to the economically and environmentally optimal 7.5 stars for the life of the dwelling. 
The way housing's deigned and constructed has a significant impact on households and society. For instance, a poorly designed and/or built home can add significant energy costs or be hard to keep cool during heatwaves in summertime and warm during winter. 
Across Australia we are seeing an increasing issue emerge in relation to energy poverty and negative health outcomes due to poor quality housing and rapidly increasing energy prices. 
<h2>Blueprint for a sustainable future</h2>
A 12-month independent study conducted by RMIT University and analysis by <a href="https://renew.org.au">Renew</a>, sustainable not-for-profit, aimed to provide evidence of qualitative and quantitative lived experience of a housing development which is attempting to deliver high quality housing. The purpose of this research is to guide other new housing developments and future revisions of minimum performance regulations for housing Australia. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape2.jpg" alt="">
Source: <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank">The Cape Galleries </a>
 For this research, <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au" target="_blank">The Cape</a> provided sustainable homes for participants. The Cape is a sustainable housing estate in Victoria's Bass Coast that demonstrates how Australian housing estates can build affordable energy efficient housing, carbon neutral homes that achieve a zero emissions, low, cost future. 
The Cape is the ideal controlled variable for this study with its combined passive solar design and construction techniques with affordable technologies such as heat pump heating, cooling and hot water systems, and solar power, to achieve carbon neutral, healthy homes that are comfortable, resilient and healthy in hot spells and heat waves, with super low running costs compared to conventional homes.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape3.jpg" alt="">
Source:<a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank"> The Cape Galleries</a>
The Cape is also generating three to four times the energy it is using. It demonstrates how new “energy positive” estates can become power stations in suburbs, generating a surplus of clean energy for use on site, to help power electric vehicles, and to export to surrounding neighbourhoods and improving energy security.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape4.jpg" alt="" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;">
Source: <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank">The Cape Galleries </a>
<h2>Research reveal a preference for a sustainable community</h2>
The report shows that most participating households aimed to live in The Cape permanently. 
There were a range of motivations from the households as to why they had bought land and planned to build a home at The Cape. Motivations ranged from wanting to reduce living costs and environmental impact through to being part of a like-minded community. 
Some households already lived in the area and were looking to move into sustainable and quality housing, while others were from Melbourne, or further afield, and were looking to transition living down at The Cape. 
In interviews with households after they moved, they reported that the housing was thermally comfortable, that they rarely had to use their heating and cooling systems and their energy and water bills had significantly fallen. 
The participants also spoke about how friendly the community was, even though it was still under development. Residents spoke about how the existing community welcomed new households and there were a number of community events starting to occur in the development. 
Some of the residents who were not yet living in the development would drive down from Melbourne to participate in some of the community activities such as the community gardening days.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/21/1_The%20Cape5.jpg" alt="" width="677" height="425">
Source: <a href="https://www.liveatthecape.com.au/images" target="_blank">The Cape Galleries </a>
Overall the majority of households were extremely happy with the performance and quality of the homes.
The use of the development guidelines provided by the developer and the use of a design review panel helped to ensure improved outcomes from having inputs from sustainable housing experts.
<h2>Efficient energy </h2>
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Data shows that energy imported from the grid ranged from 1,048kWh per year to 2,612 kWh per year or from 2.9-7.2 kWh/day with an average of 5.2kWh/day.
Excess renewable energy generation exports ranged from 2,625 kWh per year to 5,420 kWh per year or 7.2-14.8kWh per day and an average of 12.4kWh/day.
</div>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table.jpeg" alt="" width="614" height="308">
Analysis of the energy consumption and generation of renewable energy on 5 occupied homes in the study. Source: RMIT/ Renew 
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Analysis from Damien Moyse shows a reduction in energy consumption of 88% compared to a typical new 6 star home of comparable size in Victoria.
In this context the house at The Cape are performing as expected and in line with data from other sustainable housing developments in Australia.
Some of the homes at The Cape have recently added battery storage to take further advantage of the energy their renewable energy systems are generating. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table%202.jpeg" alt="" width="615" height="160">
Analysis from Damien Moyse (Renew). Source: RMIT/ Renew
<h2>A low cost future</h2>
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A reduction in energy consumption was noticed by the households who reported that their energy costs were significantly lower than their previous homes, estimating that they had now dropped to under $500 a year; a figure confirmed by their energy bills and the modelling we undertook which found economic savings of $2,307/year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table%203.jpeg" alt="" width="621" height="70" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;">
Source: Source: RMIT/ Renew
Some households were in credit on their energy bills. 
If the energy savings ($2,307/year) found at The Cape were replicated across all new housing in Victoria it would lead to economic savings for those households of almost $91 million per year and across Australia it would be almost $180 million per year. 
If all new housing, which is estimated at 118,300 houses per year, was built to the standard of The Cape across the next decade there could be accumulated economic savings for these households of more than $5 billion.
</div>
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/1/21/1%20Table%204.jpeg" alt="" width="622" height="292">
Source: RMIT/ Renew
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Building sustainable housing estates, RMIT University study reveals

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EXPERT OBSERVER
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Australia is facing a community housing crisis with 650,000 dwellings needed to meet the shortfall, according to the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA). 
We are calling on federal and state governments to support the desperate need for community housing with an estimated 12,000 Australians living in unsuitable accommodation for their needs. 
This is a result of decades of inadequate investment. 
The current construction rate of community homes sits at just over 3,000 per year, which does not even keep pace with the growing need, much less deal with the backlog of people who are waiting for accommodation that meets their requirements. 
CHIA predicts Australia will have a gap of 1 million community homes in 20 years. 
We're exploring additional community housing opportunities in Logan to help meet the huge demand. 
If we can create community homes that support the tenants, not just physically, but by allowing them to feel connected, then the surrounding area will reap the social and economic benefits.
In partnership with Compass Housing, investLogan is delivering two, three-bedroom homes in Marsden that meet NDIS requirements and will also provide facilities for a Supported Independent Living Provider to be on site. 
I want to see a shift in the stigma around community housing. 
There is a mentality that community housing breeds problematic residents, but a study by Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has found that community housing done properly is beneficial to the surrounding community. 
Community houses are typically pushed together and situated on the outskirts of a city or town, far from public transport, employment hubs, schools or social spaces. 
This approach to community housing does create a sense of isolation for the residents who feel as though they aren’t a part of a welcoming community. The locational disadvantage can, in some cases, lead to drug abuse, crime and so on. 
However, if we can reduce that feeling of isolation by planting community homes into central areas that have access to key amenity, it will give residents independence. 
That independence has been proven to build personal empowerment, promote community participation, cooperation and involvement.
investLogan has committed to delivering exemplar community dwellings, strategically located across the city and is currently looking at other potential sites, including one in Slacks Creek for a future housing development.
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Access to safe and appropriate housing is a fundamental human need, and not something that we can afford to overlook.
Medy Hassan is a director at investLogan, an independent property development and investment company that is 100 per cent owned by the Logan City Council.
For more information, <a href="https://investlogan.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Community housing crisis to peak at a million homes

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Evolve Housing, a not-for-profit community housing provider and a manager of state owned social housing, addressed some key design principles for reform in the submission to the Inquiry into Home Ownership by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics.
These key principles are as follows:
<ul>
<li>The provision of integrated, person-centred supports and incentives</li>
<li>Directing policies and programs to the full housing continuum - including the expansion of affordable housing stock</li>
<li>Increasing the community housing asset base through property transfers</li>
<li>Investing to expand affordable housing</li>
<li>Partnering with developers</li>
<li>Focus at state and local government levels on increasing the supply and sustainability of affordable housing</li>
</ul>
Evolve Housing explained in the submission that the people assisted by community housing providers have many other needs as a result of various forms of disadvantages. Lack of English language skills, lack of training and qualifications, and limitations imposed by disabilities are some of the reasons that increase the obstacle of affordable housing
"We urge the government to adopt two overarching design principles for housing reform. Enshrine the policy principle of offering housing assistance within a “Continuum of Housing” model and progressively update assistance options to facilitate the progress of residents, where applicable and appropriate, from income-linked social housing to Affordable Housing and then through to shared ownership and full home ownership. 
"Place particular emphasis on the policies, programs and funding incentives which act as supports and assistance for people on the pathway to housing independence and the associated social inclusion."
The community housing provider went on to address the suggested design principles for reform.
"The government must place immediate priority on funding and delivery models that will provide additional Affordable Housing stock, consistent with the proposed policy principle of offering housing assistance within a “Continuum of Housing” model and bridging the gap between income-linked social housing and the private rental market. 
"We also support proposals for investigating new sources of development. These include categorising Affordable and Social Housing as infrastructure and providing access to NSW Government Waratah Bonds for developing new supply, and investigating the potential use of Social Benefit Bonds or Housing Supply Bonds, and Social Impact Investment strategies, which have been used successfully elsewhere.  
"The government to ensure fair and responsible use of social housing across all of the states and territories and to assist transitions to affordable housing through the following actions:
"Review existing rent-setting arrangements for social housing to provide a clearer incentive to employment and to ensure that tenants are not materially disadvantaged if they move to Affordable Housing or private rental, or take up a job. 
"Seek an Australian Government review of arrangements that allow social housing tenants receiving benefits to cancel Centrelink rent deductions at any time. 
"Where a tenant’s rent is automatically deducted from their Centrelink benefits or Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the consent of their housing provider be required before the payment is reduced or cancelled (on the basis that such consent cannot be unreasonably withheld). 
"Implement a grace period for applicants on the social housing waiting list (or previous social housing tenants) who accept tenancy of an affordable property, allowing them to return to social housing within that grace period in specified circumstances. 
"Allow housing providers to require tenants and potential tenants to disclose personal financial information, such as taxation records, bank balances and visa information, where a housing provider reasonably believes it is necessary to ascertain the eligibility of the tenant for a housing benefit. In the event that tenants exceed eligible income thresholds or refuse to disclose the relevant information, a housing provider should be entitled to evict. 
"The imbalances between social housing and Affordable Housing include much greater security of tenure in social housing, incompatible arrangements for setting rent charges, and a lack of flexibility in Affordable Housing to assist tenants whose incomes rise or fall significantly. 
"The turnover of social housing is lower than it could be because some clients, who could afford to move out of social housing, do not do so.
"These challenges mean that people who need social housing miss out because accommodation is being tenanted by persons who do not in fact meet eligibility criteria. 
"Evolve Housing estimates that the above changes would have immediate impact and, based on our anecdotal experience, could lead to more than 10 per cent of existing social housing residents moving into other forms of housing."
Encouraging state governments to transfer larger scale existing public housing stock from the government and public sector to Community Housing Providers (CHP), is also suggested by Evolve Housing.
"Invest in expanding the portfolio of available Affordable Housing stock, including through innovative investment models and strong partnerships 
"Community Housing Providers to partner with developers to incorporate social and affordable housing into new mixed tenure developments. 
"Government to mandate livable housing design principles, from Living Housing Australia (LHA), in all new homes built by 2018. 
"We urge the government to work with state government to identify the areas where local government is able to strengthen the supply and sustainability of housing.
"Priority to be given to inclusion of affordable housing strategies in planning instruments, the potential for inclusionary zoning, use of developer contributions to fund affordable housing, and incentives to subsidise the yield gap between affordable and private market. 
Evolve housing has almost 4,300 social and affordable properties owned or under management, the experience from managing those led it to believe that the solution to easing the crisis to long-term sustainable housing is reform at individual, organizational and governmental levels.
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Design principles key in community housing reform

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The Senate Affordable Housing committee report has noted the matter of the charitable status of community housing providers was needing resolution as a matter of concern.
In 2008, the Standing Committee on Community Affairs inquired into legislation providing for regulations to prescribe NRAS with witnesses representing the community housing sector saying that their biggest concern around their participation in NRAS was the possibility that such engagement would compromise their charitable or public benevolent institutions (PBI) status. 
At that time, a position taken by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) generated concern as the ATO indicated that any organisation with charitable status would seriously jeopardise that status if they participated in NRAS.
They further indicated that organisations such as consortiums that participate in NRAS will not be endorsed as charitable organisations.
Furthermore—one that sent chills down the spine of the sector—participation in NRAS may have caused the ATO to heavily scrutinise all of the activities of a participating not-for-profit organisation, not just those that pertain to participating in NRAS.
The ATO reasoned that NRAS was intended to assist not only low income earners, but people on moderate incomes. 
The then government took measures to provide assurances that participating in NRAS would not jeopardise the status of not-for-profit organisations as charities.
Even so, concerns persist that charitable organisations could risk their charitable status by participating in NRAS.
According to the Community Housing Federation of Australia, a charitable tax status allows providers access to a range of tax concessions, including exemption from income tax and GST, access to the Fringe Benefits Tax and often local government concessions on rates and utility bills.
It argued that the charitable tax status was an essential component of the community housing model because the concessions lowered their operating, construction and development costs. 
The Federation told the Senate committee that these concessions, however, were contingent on a community housing provider satisfying the ATO that its organisation's purpose met the criteria for charitable status.
Despite measures taken since 2008 to preserve the status of NFP community housing providers as charitable institutions, the Federation explained over the last several years the sector has operated under the threat and uncertainty that many of its activities, especially in the delivery of affordable housing, would not be considered to have met the criteria of the relief of poverty and could jeopardise the charitable status of community housing providers. 
The legislation that was purported to constrain housing activities through a narrow interpretation of permissible activities was withdrawn.
However, other legislation passed in June 2013 contained some tax conditions that may have a similar impact on providers' charitable status, resulting in limiting their participation in the affordable housing market for fear of putting their charitable tax status at risk. 
Other legislation, such as the new definition of charity that went into effect 1 January 2014 provided some clarity on the situation...[but it] has been mooted for repeal leaving the sector back in the position it was before with ambiguous interpretations of housing activities allowable as a charitable organisation.
The Community Housing Federation drew attention to 'the unsettling environment in the charities and tax arena' which would 'cause continuing uncertainty for the sector for forward planning in the affordable housing market'. 
The Senate committee was firmly of the view that the Australian Government must take steps to provide certainty for community housing providers engaged in NRAS or similar schemes designed to provide affordable housing that their charitable status is not in jeopardy by participating in such schemes.
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