Applying for national registration for community housing

Registration under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing is a multi-step process to assess your organisation’s eligibility and capacity to comply with the National Regulatory Code.

The application process is complex and in-depth. It can take up to 5 months to complete the process, and for the registrar to assess your information and make a decision.

Housing providers must have an appropriate corporate structure. Your type of corporate structure may affect which tier you're eligible to be registered under. For example, a tier 3 provider must be a legal body corporate, such as:

• a cooperative or incorporated association under state/territory legislation
• a corporation incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• other bodies corporate.

Tier 1 housing providers must be incorporated as a company limited by shares or by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001.

The application process has several stages. Follow this process to apply for national registration:

Stage 1 – Initial pre-registration enquiry

1. Select which corporate structure type best suits your organisation’s requirements.
2. Familiarise yourself with the:
   1. general eligibility criteria for registration
   2. performance outcomes
   3. ongoing compliance requirements
3. Complete the pre-registration enquiry form (PDF, 152KB) and email it the Registrar’s office.

The Registrar’s office will contact you within 14 business days to provide the next steps.

Stage 2 – Application for registration

Registration is a 2-phase process where you demonstrate your ability to comply with the Housing Act 2003 and National Regulatory Code.

1. Prepare your paperwork for submission to the Registrar:
   1. You’ll need to submit a large volume of business, operational and financial information.
   2. Your submission will include business plans, company policies, procedures and financial statements.
2. Submit your documentation via the Community Housing Regulatory and Information System (CHRIS).

Stage 3 – Registration decision

The Registrar will make a decision after assessing your application, which must be completed in full. The Registrar may ask you for more information.

If your organisation doesn’t meet the criteria for registration, based on the information you’ve provided, you’ll be able to respond or address any issues.

Stage 4 – Ongoing compliance and reporting

Once you’re registered, your organisation will be subject to ongoing compliance and reporting requirements under the National Regulatory Code:

• tier 1 and 2 providers – every year
• tier 3 providers – every 2 years.

Read more about conditions of national registration.