What is 'affordable housing'?
The department has developed a definition of affordable housing to assist stakeholders in the broader housing system to identify ways they can contribute to the provision of affordable housing.
This definition is supported by guidelines for developing affordable housing, which outline factors such as design qualities and location characteristics with a process to help identify affordable housing rents.
Affordable housing should consider the following:
- Appropriateness of the dwelling
Dwellings should be appropriate to the needs and circumstances of the household in terms of the number, size and configuration of rooms, safety considerations, the versatility of indoor/outdoor spaces, and ease of physical access, regardless of the physical capacity of household members. - Housing and social mix
A range of housing types, tenures and styles should be available to meet the needs of people at different stages of their life cycle and under negative economic circumstances. Planning should seek to avoid the impacts of a housing market that excludes all but relatively high-income earners. We need to avoid the development of neighbourhoods that do not contribute to community well-being. - Tenure choice
Households should enjoy tenure choice and consumer protection, including access to long lease contracts, shared equity arrangements, and cooperative ownership structures, as well as opportunities for home purchase and private rental. - Location of housing
Housing should be well located in relation to places of employment and to the range of services, facilities, communication and transport networks required to meet other household needs. Planning and design should ensure that residential neighbourhoods and buildings are compatible with adjacent land uses. - Quality of environmental planning and design
Housing planning and design should be responsive to local microclimate and environmental conditions by incorporating energy efficient design principles. Housing should fit into and enhance the neighbourhood, ensure privacy to residents and neighbours, and incorporate the principles of crime prevention through environmental design. Neighbourhood design should promote safe and convenient pedestrian access to local services and facilities. - Cost
Low-income households (the bottom 40 per cent of households on the income distribution) should spend no more than 30 per cent of their income on mortgage or rental payments. All households should be able to meet the cost of their dwellings, and the longer-term costs of maintenance and energy consumption, while meeting other lifestyle needs.
Last updated 07 July 2005
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