The Act creates the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation as a public corporate vehicle with broad powers to acquire, develop, manage and sell land; build and finance housing; run joint ventures; and provide loans, grants and services. Funded through a central Housing Account and overseen by the Minister and Treasurer, it affects tenants, applicants, community housing providers and private partners. It includes fraud‑prevention, information‑sharing and debt‑recovery tools and narrows external review for certain housing security decisions.
This Act establishes and governs the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation, sets out its powers, functions and funding arrangements, and creates a statutory framework for public housing, home‑purchase assistance, rental rebates, advances for housing, and the Corporation’s property and commercial activity. Mechanically the instrument does the following.
Constitutes the Corporation and assigns management and control. The Corporation is a body corporate representing the Crown, its affairs are to be managed by the Secretary, and it is subject to the direction and control of the Minister (ss 6(1)-(5)). The Corporation may act in the name of the Department and is to act complementarily with the Department (ss 6(7)-(8)).
Defines objects and administration priorities. The objects include maximising access to secure, appropriate and affordable housing, focusing public housing on those most in need, developing registered community housing, supporting low and moderate income home purchase assistance, and attracting investment in public housing (s 5).
Confers operational functions and powers. The Corporation may acquire, develop, sell, lease and manage land for residential development and public purposes, enter contracts and arrangements with public authorities, form joint ventures and private corporations (with ministerial and Treasurer approvals where required), and provide services, advice and products (ss 7-13, 18, 60-62).
Creates financial structures. The Act establishes the Housing Account in the Special Deposits Account and identifies its receipts and permitted applications (s 63). It mandates a Housing Reserve Fund for certain matched Commonwealth programs and other housing purposes and prescribes the permitted sources and uses of the fund (s 66). The Treasurer may determine that net proceeds of particular land sales be paid to the Consolidated Fund (s 65).
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Housing Act 2001.
This Act commences, or is taken to have commenced, on 1 July 2001.
3
Definitions
3 Definitions
3 Definitions
In this Act—
building includes any part of a building and any appurtenance to a building, any fence, wall and any other structure or a part of a structure and any provision for lighting, heating, refrigeration, water supply, drainage or sewerage.
Commonwealth State agreement includes any agreement to which the Commonwealth and the State are parties, whether or not other persons or bodies are also parties to the agreement.
Corporation means the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation constituted by this Act.
Department means the department in which this Act is administered.
exercise a function includes perform a duty.
function includes a power, duty or authority.
Home Purchase Assistance Fund means the fund established under the trust deed entitled “Trust Deed establishing the Home Purchase Assistance Fund”, being an agreement entered into on 14 February 1989 between the State, the Department of Housing, the Treasury, Permanent Custodians Limited and Permanent Trustee Company Limited.
house or housing means any kind of dwelling.
Housing Account means the account established under section 63.
housing area means a housing area constituted under section 36.
Housing Reserve Fund means the Housing Reserve Fund established under section 66.
proprietor in relation to land means the proprietor of a legal or equitable estate of fee simple in the land.
public authority means any public or local authority constituted by or under an Act other than this Act.
public housing means housing owned or leased by the Corporation or Minister, and managed by the Department, that is leased to members of the public that meet the Department’s or the Corporation’s eligibility criteria, but does not include housing leased to a person in accordance with the HomeFund Restructuring Act 1993 or that is substituted for housing leased in accordance with that Act or housing subject to a concurrent lease to a registered community housing provider.
registered community housing provider has the same meaning as it has in the Community Housing Providers National Law (NSW).
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.
Note.
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
s 3: Am 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [1]; 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [1]; 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [1]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [1]; 2016 No 53, Sch 1 [1] [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 3.21[1]; 2025 No 2, Sch 1[1] [2].
4
Notes
4 Notes
4 Notes
Notes included in this Act are explanatory notes and do not form part of this Act.
Note.
For the purposes of comparison, a number of provisions of this Act contain bracketed notes in headings drawing attention (“cf”) to equivalent or comparable (though not necessarily identical) provisions of other Acts that are the subject of repeal by this Act.
Part 2
Objects of Act
Part 2 Objects of Act
Part 2 Objects of Act
5
Objects of Act
5 Objects of Act
5 Objects of Act
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 4, Act No 15, 1993, s 4)
(1) The objects of this Act are as follows—
(a) to maximise the opportunities for all people in New South Wales to have access to secure, appropriate and affordable housing,
(b) to ensure that housing opportunities and assistance are available to all sections of the community with housing needs,
(c) to ensure that public housing is developed as a viable and diversified form of housing choice,
(d) to ensure that public housing and community housing reflects the housing standards of the general community and is designed to cater for the ongoing needs of consumers,
(e) to maximise the opportunities for tenants of public and community housing programs to participate in the management of their housing and in the development of public and community housing policies,
(f) to ensure that the public housing system focuses on housing people who are most in need,
(f1) to ensure that the available supply of public housing is shared equitably among people who are most in need,
(g) to promote equity between levels of assistance provided to people living in public housing, community housing, private rental housing and those who own or are purchasing their homes,
(h) to maintain an efficient housing administration to ensure the effective co-ordination and provision of all housing services,
(i) to encourage social mix and the integration of different housing forms in existing and new communities,
(j) to ensure that registered community housing is developed as a viable and diversified component of the New South Wales social housing sector,
(k) to support the provision of registered community housing for people on a very low, low or moderate income,
(l) to facilitate the provision of assistance to home purchasers on low to moderate incomes,
(m) to provide for the management of such existing and future home purchase assistance schemes (including the portfolio of loans under HomeFund schemes) as the Minister directs,
(n) to provide for the funding of such other rental and home purchase assistance schemes as the Minister directs,
(o) to encourage the development of flexible and innovative financial arrangements to facilitate access to home ownership for persons in receipt of low and moderate incomes,
(p) to ensure appropriate mechanisms and forums are established to allow input into housing policy by representative community organisations and non-government agencies involved in housing policy and provision,
(q) to attract investment in public housing, including related activities such as tenant employment and the provision of integrated services,
(r) to enable the provision under this Act of corporate, technical and information technology services, in or outside New South Wales, to government and non-government agencies.
(2) In the administration of this Act, regard is to be had to the objects of this Act to the maximum extent possible taking into consideration the needs of the State and available resources, and subject to any directions of the Minister.
s 5: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [1]; 2005 No 79, Sch 2.2; 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [2]–[4].
Part 3
New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
Part 3 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
Part 3 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
Division 1
Establishment of Corporation
Division 1 Establishment of Corporation
Division 1 Establishment of Corporation
6
Establishment of New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
6 Establishment of New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
6 Establishment of New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
(1) There is constituted by this Act a body corporate with the corporate name of the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation.
(2) The affairs of the Corporation are to be managed by the Secretary.
(3) Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the Corporation by the Secretary, or with the authority of the Secretary, is taken to have been done by the Corporation.
(4) The Corporation is, for the purposes of any Act, a statutory body representing the Crown.
(5) The Corporation is subject to the direction and control of the Minister.
(6) (Repealed)
(7) The Corporation may exercise any of its functions, and may otherwise act, in the name of the Department.
(8) The Corporation and the Department are, to the maximum extent possible, to act in a complementary manner, so as to achieve a unified administration of this Act.
s 6: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [2]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 3.21[2]; 2025 No 2, Sch 1[3].
Division 2
General functions of Corporation
Division 2 General functions of Corporation
Division 2 General functions of Corporation
7
Functions of Corporation generally
7 Functions of Corporation generally
7 Functions of Corporation generally
(1) The Corporation—
(a) has the functions conferred on it by or under this or any other Act and may do such supplemental, incidental and consequential acts as may be necessary or expedient for the exercise of its functions, and
(b) has such other functions as are necessary to implement any Commonwealth State agreement, in so far as it relates to housing.
(2) The Corporation is to manage financial risks associated with its activities.
(3) (Repealed)
s 7: Am 2006 No 2, Sch 4.27 [1]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [3].
8
Functions of Corporation relating to land and housing
8 Functions of Corporation relating to land and housing
8 Functions of Corporation relating to land and housing
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 9)
(1) In this section—
develop includes re-develop.
public purpose includes any purpose for which land may be acquired under any other Act.
residential development includes the expansion, establishment and re-development of residential areas.
(2) The Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to acquire land for present or future residential development and for public purposes,
(b) from time to time, as prevailing circumstances require, to develop and make available, or to make available for development by others, such of the land so acquired as the Corporation considers necessary or expedient for residential development and for public purposes.
(c), (d) (Repealed)
(3) (Repealed)
s 8: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [3]–[6].
9
Functions of the Corporation relating to home purchase assistance
9 Functions of the Corporation relating to home purchase assistance
9 Functions of the Corporation relating to home purchase assistance
(cf Act No 15, 1993, s 13)
(1) The Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to develop policies for home purchase assistance and to make recommendations to the Minister on such matters,
(b) to manage such existing and future home purchase assistance schemes as are from time to time directed by the Minister.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to determine guidelines for the eligibility of applicants for home purchase assistance,
(b) to determine the terms and conditions of loans or other assistance to those applicants,
(c) to advertise and market home purchase assistance,
(d) to provide information to the public on home purchase and home purchase assistance,
(e) to make loans or grants or give other financial assistance, with or without security, to eligible applicants,
(f) to manage loans, including to collect repayments and arrears and realise securities,
(g) to manage the Housing Reserve Fund and any contingency fund in relation to home purchase assistance, as directed by the Minister.
10
Functions relating to collection of information and provision of advice, services and products
10 Functions relating to collection of information and provision of advice, services and products
10 Functions relating to collection of information and provision of advice, services and products
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 40G)
(1) The Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to carry out all such surveys and investigations into issues related to housing as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act, or for the purpose of ascertaining the housing conditions in any locality,
(b) to publish for general information the results of any such survey or investigation,
(c) to publish from time to time in printed form or on the Internet matter dealing with housing,
(d) to take steps by the holding of architectural competitions or otherwise to obtain the better design and arrangement of houses and of subdivisions of land for houses and related purposes,
(f) to give to any person such advice or assistance of a technical or architectural nature, and such advice of a financial nature, on matters relating to housing, as the Corporation may from time to time determine.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation may—
(a) provide to any person or organisation corporate services, information technology services, advice and associated products, and
(b) provide to persons or organisations involved in the provision of housing, or that are part of the housing industry, technical services, advice or associated products.
(3) A function referred to in subsection (2) may be exercised within or outside the State.
(4) The Corporation may charge for the provision of services, advice or products in accordance with this Act.
11
Consultation and negotiation
11 Consultation and negotiation
11 Consultation and negotiation
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 18)
(1) In the exercise of its functions the Corporation is, as far as practicable—
(a) to consult with public authorities whose functions include those of the same or of a similar nature, and
(b) to negotiate with any such authorities for the purpose of arranging or providing services and facilities on land vested in the Corporation.
(2) (Repealed)
(3) In the exercise of its functions relating to the provision of public housing, the Corporation is, as far as practicable, to consult with public housing tenants and organisations representing the interests of public housing tenants.
s 11: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [7].
Division 3
General powers to enter contracts, agreements and concurrent leases
Division 3 General powers to enter contracts, agreements and concurrent leases
Division 3 General powers to enter contracts, agreements and concurrent leases
pt 3, div 3, hdg: Am 2016 No 53, Sch 1 [3].
12
Corporation may enter into contracts
12 Corporation may enter into contracts
12 Corporation may enter into contracts
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 16)
(1) The Corporation may make and enter into contracts with any person for the carrying out of works or the performance of services or the supply of goods or materials in connection with the exercise by the Corporation of its functions.
(2) A contract under subsection (1) may provide for—
(a) the whole or any part of any works to be undertaken by the Corporation, or
(b) the whole or any part of the cost of any works to be paid by the Corporation, or
(c) a loan to be made by the Corporation to meet the whole or any part of the cost of any works, or
(d) the Corporation to pay the cost of providing any services during a specified period.
(3) Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation may make and enter into a contract under this section with any person for the construction on land vested in the Corporation or that person, or in the Corporation and that person, of buildings or of other works, and for the sale, lease or exchange of any such land together with the buildings or other works on the land.
13
Corporation may enter into arrangements with other public authorities
13 Corporation may enter into arrangements with other public authorities
13 Corporation may enter into arrangements with other public authorities
(cf Act No 1976 No 62, s 17)
(1) The Corporation may enter into an arrangement or agreement with any public authority that—
(a) the public authority is to act as agent of the Corporation for the purposes of this Act, or
(b) the Corporation is to act as agent of the public authority for the purposes of this Act,
on such terms and conditions as are agreed on between the Corporation and the public authority.
(2) Despite anything in any other Act, any public authority is authorised and empowered to enter into arrangements or agreements referred to in subsection (1) and may do or suffer anything necessary or expedient for carrying out any such arrangements or agreements.
13A
Entering into concurrent leases
13A Entering into concurrent leases
13A Entering into concurrent leases
(1) The Corporation may enter into a concurrent lease with a registered community housing provider in respect of any housing owned by the Corporation (whether or not the housing is leased to a tenant at the time that the concurrent lease is entered).
(2) On entering into a concurrent lease under this section—
(a) any rent payable by a tenant (other than rent in arrears that was payable before the concurrent lease was entered into) becomes payable to the registered community housing provider and not to the Corporation and any provision of the concurrent lease, to the extent that it provides otherwise (whether directly or constructively), does not have effect, and
(b) the tenant is no longer renting public housing.
(3) On entering into a concurrent lease under this section in respect of housing, the Corporation may provide to the registered community housing provider any information in relation to the housing (including personal or health information about a tenant or any other person).
(4) The Corporation is not to provide personal or health information to a registered community housing provider under this section unless the Corporation is satisfied that the registered community housing provider has procedures in place to ensure the privacy of the information.
(5) Nothing in this section limits any other power the Corporation may have to enter into a lease or a concurrent lease (including entering into a concurrent lease with a registered community housing provider).
(6) For the avoidance of doubt, the consent of a tenant is not required in order for the Corporation to enter into a concurrent lease or to provide information under this section.
Section 59 of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 provides that the persons so employed (or whose services the Corporation makes use of) may be referred to as officers or employees, or members of staff, of the Corporation. Section 47A of the Constitution Act 1902 precludes the Corporation from employing staff.
s 14: Rep 2006 No 2, Sch 4.27 [2]. Ins 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [4].
15
Delegations
15 Delegations
15 Delegations
(1) The Corporation may delegate to a person the exercise of any of its functions, other than this power of delegation.
(1A) A delegate of the Corporation may sub-delegate to a person any function delegated by the Corporation if the delegate is authorised to do so by the Corporation.
(2) The Secretary may delegate to a person employed in the Department, or to the Corporation, the exercise of any of the Secretary’s functions under this Act (including any function delegated to the Secretary under this section), other than this power of delegation.
(2A) A delegate of the Secretary may sub-delegate to a person employed in the Department any function delegated by the Secretary if the delegate is authorised to do so by the Secretary.
(3) (Repealed)
s 15: Am 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [5] [6]; 2009 No 96, Sch 9 [1] [2]; 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [2]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2] [5].
16
Reports from Corporation to Minister
16 Reports from Corporation to Minister
16 Reports from Corporation to Minister
(1) The Corporation must furnish the Minister with full information as to any business of the Corporation that the Minister requires.
(2) The Corporation must at all times allow the Minister and every person authorised by the Minister to inspect all books, papers, documents, accounts, buildings, property and places under its control.
17
Annual reporting information
17 Annual reporting information
17 Annual reporting information
The annual reporting information prepared for the Department under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 may include any annual reporting information required under that Act for the Corporation.
s 17: Subst 2018 No 70, Sch 4.53[1].
Part 4
Acquisition, sale, development and management of land and property
Part 4 Acquisition, sale, development and management of land and property
Part 4 Acquisition, sale, development and management of land and property
18
General powers of Corporation in relation to land vested in Corporation
18 General powers of Corporation in relation to land vested in Corporation
18 General powers of Corporation in relation to land vested in Corporation
(cf Act No 62, 1976, ss 10 and 14 (1))
For the purposes of this Act and subject to this Act, the Corporation may, in relation to land vested in the Corporation—
(a) control and manage the land, and
(b) subject to such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, sell, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of or deal with the land and grant easements or rights-of-way over the land or any part of that land, and
(c) demolish any building on the land of which it has exclusive possession, and
(d) provide or relocate, or arrange for the provision or relocation of, utility services to or in relation to the land, and
(e) subdivide and re-subdivide the land and consolidate subdivided or re-subdivided land, and
(f) set out and construct roads on the land, and
(g) erect, alter, repair or renovate buildings on the land or make other improvements to the land, and
(h) cause any other work to be done on or in relation to the land for the purpose of rendering it fit to be used for any purpose for which it may be used under any environmental planning instrument within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 applying to the land.
19
Surrender of land
19 Surrender of land
19 Surrender of land
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 12)
(1) The Corporation may accept a surrender of any land leased, dedicated or granted under this Act.
(2) The land so surrendered may be disposed of by the Corporation under this Act.
(3) The Corporation may agree to cancel any contract of sale of land from the Corporation at the request of the purchaser of the land.
(4) The Corporation may, if it thinks fit, pay to the person surrendering any land leased, granted or dedicated under this Act, or to the purchaser of land on the cancellation of a contract of sale, such sum by way of compensation for any visible and effective improvements on the land, as to the Corporation seems fair.
(5) An amount paid under subsection (4) must not exceed the value of the improvements at the date of the surrender or cancellation and must relate to costs that have not been defrayed or advanced by the Corporation.
(6) The Corporation may also in its discretion repay to a purchaser on the cancellation of a contract of sale of land from the Corporation the whole or such proportion as it thinks fit of the purchase money of the land that has been paid by the purchaser under this Act.
(1) For the purposes of the Public Works Act 1912, any acquisition of land by the Corporation is taken to be for an authorised work and the Corporation is, in relation to that authorised work, taken to be the Constructing Authority.
(2) Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Public Works Act 1912 do not apply in respect of works constructed under this Act.
21
Power to accept gifts
21 Power to accept gifts
21 Power to accept gifts
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 13)
(1) The Corporation may acquire by gift, bequest or devise any property for any of the purposes of this Act and may agree to, and carry out the conditions of, the gift, bequest or devise.
(2) The rule of law relating to remoteness of vesting does not apply to any condition of a gift, bequest or devise to which the Corporation has agreed.
(3) Duty is not chargeable in respect of any gift, bequest or devise made to the Corporation.
22
Acquisition of land
22 Acquisition of land
22 Acquisition of land
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 11 (1))
(1) The Corporation may, for the purposes of this Act, acquire land (including an interest in land) by agreement or by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), land may be acquired by the Corporation under subsection (1) for the purposes of the Crown Lands Homesites Program or any other policy or program of the Government relating to residential development (within the meaning of section 8). Any land so acquired may be transferred to any person or body responsible for administering the relevant program or policy.
s 22: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [8].
23
Compulsory acquisition of land for failure to comply with certain requirements
23 Compulsory acquisition of land for failure to comply with certain requirements
23 Compulsory acquisition of land for failure to comply with certain requirements
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 41)
(1) The Minister may compulsorily acquire in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 land on which a house has been erected by the Corporation for a purchaser if the purchaser does not execute a form of purchase agreement or mortgage approved by the Corporation on being required in writing by the Corporation to do so.
(2) The Minister may compulsorily acquire in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 land on which a house has been erected by a person to whom an advance has been made under this Act for the erection of the house if the person does not execute a form of mortgage approved by the Corporation on being required in writing by the Corporation to do so.
(3) The compensation to be assessed for the purposes of this section is only in respect of the interest of the purchaser or person to whom the advance was made, and any increased value to the land due to the expenditure of the Corporation, or of the advance made by it, is to be disregarded.
24
Conditions on sale of land vested in Corporation
24 Conditions on sale of land vested in Corporation
24 Conditions on sale of land vested in Corporation
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 14)
(1) The Corporation may in any contract for the sale of land vested in the Corporation include conditions for or with respect to any or all of the following—
(a) the erection of any building on that land by the purchaser within a specified period,
(b) conferring on the Corporation an option or right to repurchase that land if the purchaser has failed to comply with a condition referred to in paragraph (a),
(c) conferring on the Corporation an option or right to repurchase that land if the purchaser wishes to sell or otherwise dispose of that land before the expiration of a specified period or requiring the purchaser to pay to the Corporation a sum determined in a specified manner where the Corporation does not exercise that option or right,
(d) the determination of the repurchase price payable by the Corporation under a condition referred to in paragraph (b) or (c).
(2) Subsection (1) does not limit the conditions that may be included by the Corporation in any contract for the sale of land.
(3) A condition referred to in subsection (1) that is included in a contract of sale does not merge in the transfer of title to the land the subject of the contract of sale on completion of the sale.
(4) If the Corporation requests the Registrar-General in a manner approved by the Registrar-General and pays the fee prescribed under the Real Property Act 1900, the Registrar-General must make in the Register kept under that Act a recording appropriate to indicate—
(a) that land specified in the request is held subject to a condition authorised under subsection (1), or
(b) that a recording made in accordance with paragraph (a) has ceased to have effect.
(5) The Corporation must not make such a request except for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the conditions in the contract of sale under which the land was sold. However, the Registrar-General need not be concerned to inquire whether any such request has been made for that purpose.
(6) If a recording has been made in the Register in accordance with subsection (4) (a) in respect of any land, the Registrar-General must not register under the Real Property Act 1900 a transfer of that land to or by a person other than the Corporation unless—
(a) a recording in accordance with subsection (4) (b) has been made in respect of the land, or
(b) the consent of the Corporation to the transfer has been endorsed on the transfer.
25
Imposition of conditions on sale of certain land
25 Imposition of conditions on sale of certain land
25 Imposition of conditions on sale of certain land
(cf Act No 62, 1976, ss 14A–14C)
(1) If the Corporation requests the Registrar-General in the manner approved by the Registrar-General and pays the fee prescribed under the Real Property Act 1900, the Registrar-General must make in the Register kept under that Act a recording appropriate to identify—
(a) that land of which the Corporation is then the registered proprietor and that is specified in the request is, on a sale by the Corporation to a purchaser, to be held by the purchaser subject to—
(i) conditions specified or referred to in the request, being all or any of the conditions referred to in section 24 (1), or
(ii) the condition that the land may not be transferred, without a specified building or building of a specified class or description having been erected on the land, except with the consent of the Corporation, or
(b) that a recording made in accordance with paragraph (a) has ceased to have effect.
(2) If a recording has been made in the Register in accordance with subsection (1) (a) in respect of any land (being a recording that has not ceased to have effect) and the Corporation subsequently enters into a contract for the sale of the land, each condition to which the recording relates has effect as a condition of the contract for the sale of the land.
(3) A condition referred to in subsection (1) does not merge in the transfer of title to the land on completion of a sale of the land by the Corporation.
(4) If a recording has been made in the Register in accordance with subsection (1) (a) in respect of any land, the Registrar-General must not register under the Real Property Act 1900 a transfer of the land to or by a person other than the Corporation unless—
(a) a recording in accordance with subsection (1) (b) has been made in respect of the land, or
(b) the consent of the Corporation to the transfer has been endorsed on the transfer.
26
Cancellation of agreement
26 Cancellation of agreement
26 Cancellation of agreement
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 42)
If any contract for the sale of land from the Corporation is cancelled or forfeited for non-fulfilment of the conditions of the contract, the Corporation may, instead of any damages provided for in the contract, claim and recover for use and occupation an amount equivalent to 8.5 per cent per annum of the improved capital value of the property.
27
Possession to Corporation on cancellation of agreement
27 Possession to Corporation on cancellation of agreement
27 Possession to Corporation on cancellation of agreement
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 43)
(1) If a purchaser under a contract of sale of land from the Corporation makes default in relation to any of the conditions of the contract, and the default continues for a period of 60 days or more—
(a) the whole of the purchase money and other money owing under the contract becomes due and payable immediately, and
(b) those amounts may be recovered by the Corporation with interest at the rate payable under the contract, and
(c) the Corporation may, with or without giving notice, cancel the contract or enter into possession of the land described in the contract, and any house erected on that land, and receive the rents and profits of that land.
(2) At any time after the cancellation of a contract under this section, or when the Corporation proposes to enter into possession of the land and house described in the contract and receive the rents and profits of the land, the Corporation may—
(a) require the purchaser or occupant to deliver up possession of the land and house described in the contract, and
(b) if the purchaser or occupant refuses to deliver possession, issue a warrant to the sheriff to deliver possession to the person specified in the warrant.
(3) On the receipt of a warrant under this section the sheriff must execute the warrant and deliver possession of the house and land in accordance with the warrant.
(4) The costs incurred in connection with the issue and execution of the warrant, to be determined by the Sheriff, are to be paid by the person refusing to give possession.
(5) Any costs due to the Corporation under this section may be recovered by the Corporation as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(6) The Corporation may, in its discretion, repay to a purchaser whose agreement has been cancelled under this section the whole or such proportion as it thinks fit of the purchase money of the house which has been paid by the purchaser under this Act.
(7) If the Corporation has, without cancelling a contract of sale, entered into possession of the land and house described in the contract, it may remain in possession until such time as it indicates to the person entitled to the benefit of the contract its intention to vacate possession or until the terms and conditions of the contract have been fully completed and satisfied.
28
Construction of buildings by Corporation
28 Construction of buildings by Corporation
28 Construction of buildings by Corporation
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 7)
The Corporation may erect on any land vested in or acquired by the Corporation buildings for residential, business, or other purposes, or for public use, and has the duty of maintaining and repairing them for so long as the Corporation has control over the land.
29
Building materials
29 Building materials
29 Building materials
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 7A)
The Corporation may manufacture or produce for, or purchase from or supply to, any person building materials, fittings or appliances on such terms and conditions as the Corporation may from time to time determine.
30
Temporary buildings
30 Temporary buildings
30 Temporary buildings
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 7B)
The Corporation may construct buildings for emergency housing accommodation and, on such terms and conditions as it considers reasonable, may sell or hire any such building to any person legally possessed of land.
31
Construction of other buildings
31 Construction of other buildings
31 Construction of other buildings
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 18)
(1) This section applies to a request from—
(a) any Minister of the State of New South Wales or any Minister of State of the Commonwealth, or
(b) any Public Service agency or any Department of State of the Commonwealth, or
(c) any statutory body representing the Crown and incorporated under any Act of New South Wales or the Commonwealth, or both.
(2) The Corporation may, on receiving a request to do so and at the cost of and on such terms as may be agreed on by the Minister, agency or statutory body making the request, construct buildings and carry out works—
(a) on land vested in the Minister, agency or statutory body, or
(b) on land otherwise lawfully available to the Minister, agency or statutory body for the construction of the buildings or the carrying out of the works.
(3) The Corporation may exercise the powers conferred on it under this section even if the cost of the buildings constructed or the works carried out by it is not met directly out of funds of the Minister, agency or statutory body making the request so long as an arrangement has been made with the Treasurer by the Minister, agency or statutory body for the payment of that cost to the Housing Account.
(4) In this section—
buildings means buildings intended for use for any purpose.
works includes road, drainage, and site developmental works and any other incidental works.
s 31: Am 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [6] [7].
Division 5
Change in management of land
Division 5 Change in management of land
Division 5 Change in management of land
32
Management of land purchased or compulsorily acquired otherwise than under this Act
32 Management of land purchased or compulsorily acquired otherwise than under this Act
32 Management of land purchased or compulsorily acquired otherwise than under this Act
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 17)
(1) The Governor may, by notification published in the Gazette, impose on the Corporation the duty of managing any land—
(a) that has been purchased or compulsorily acquired on behalf of the Crown otherwise than under this Act, and
(b) that is not by statute or other authority placed in the charge of any other officer or public body.
(2) The Governor may revoke or alter any such notification by further notification published in the Gazette.
(3) For the purpose of managing land under this section, the Corporation has, exclusively, the powers of a Constructing Authority under Division 7 of Part 6 of the Public Works Act 1912.
(4) Money received by the Corporation in respect of land managed by it under this section is to be paid into the Treasury into such account as the Treasurer may direct.
(5) The expenditure of the Corporation in relation to land managed by it under this section is to be met from money appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.
33
Withdrawal of land from Corporation
33 Withdrawal of land from Corporation
33 Withdrawal of land from Corporation
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 18B)
(1) The Governor may by proclamation withdraw from the Corporation any land vested in the Corporation under this Act.
(2) On publication of the proclamation in the Gazette the land specified in the proclamation ceases to be vested in the Corporation and is taken to be reserved Crown land within the meaning of the Crown Land Management Act 2016.
(3) On any land so withdrawn being subsequently sold, leased or otherwise disposed of, subsections (4) and (5) apply.
(4) If the land is land that was not Crown land and was compulsorily acquired or purchased for housing purposes, the proceeds of the sale or lease or other disposition, less the costs of collection and other necessary expenses, are to be paid to the Housing Account.
(5) If the land is land that was Crown land and was compulsorily acquired for housing purposes, the proceeds of the sale, lease or other disposition are to be applied as follows—
(a) the costs of collection and other necessary expenses are to be paid first,
(b) of the balance, the amount which represents the value of the land at the date of the acquisition is to be credited to such accounts as it would be credited to if the amount were received in the ordinary course of the alienation of Crown land,
(c) of the balance remaining, the Housing Account is to be credited with the amount (if any) expended from that account in respect of the acquisition and any works for the improvement of the land,
(d) if there is any balance remaining, the surplus is to be divided equally, and one-half credited to the Housing Account and the other half credited as specified in paragraph (b).
s 33: Am 2017 No 17, Sch 4.43 [1].
34
Dedication of land by Corporation for public purposes
34 Dedication of land by Corporation for public purposes
34 Dedication of land by Corporation for public purposes
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 15)
(1) The Corporation may, by order published in the Gazette, declare that it proposes to surrender land that is vested in the Corporation and described or referred to in the order to be dedicated under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 for any public purpose specified in the order.
(2) On the surrender of land described or referred to in an order under this section, the land is taken to be Crown land dedicated under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 for the public purpose specified in the order.
(3) Without limiting the power conferred under subsection (1), the Corporation may, by notification published in the Gazette, dedicate as a public reserve or drainage reserve land that is vested in the Corporation and described or referred to in the notification and that is situated in an area within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993.
(4) On the publication in the Gazette of a notification referred to in subsection (3), the land described or referred to in the notification vests in the council of the area in which the land is situated and is subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 relating to public reserves or drainage reserves, as the case may be.
s 34: Am 2017 No 17, Sch 4.43 [2] [3].
35
Exercise of council’s powers by Corporation
35 Exercise of council’s powers by Corporation
35 Exercise of council’s powers by Corporation
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 19)
(1) The Minister administering the Local Government Act 1993 may, by order published in the Gazette—
(a) transfer to the Corporation such of the functions conferred on a council by or under that Act as are specified or described in the order, and
(b) specify or describe any land vested in the Corporation in or, in relation to which, any transferred function is to be exercised by the Corporation.
(2) An order under this section operates so as to transfer to the Corporation, in accordance with the terms of the order, the functions referred to in the order.
(3) Without affecting the generality of subsection (2), a function conferred on the Corporation by an order under this section is to be exercised by the Corporation only in or in relation to land vested in the Corporation and specified or described in the order.
(a) subject to paragraph (b) with such adaptations as are necessary, or
(b) with such adaptations as are specified in the order,
to and in relation to the exercise of functions specified or described in an order under this section as if the Corporation were a council and the land in respect of which those functions may be exercised formed part of that council’s area.
(5) A function conferred on the Corporation by an order under this section is, to the extent specified in the order, taken to be transferred from the council specified in the order, and, to that extent, the council ceases to have that function or to be under any obligation in relation to that function.
Division 6
Functions of Minister in relation to land and property
Division 6 Functions of Minister in relation to land and property
Division 6 Functions of Minister in relation to land and property
pt 4, div 6: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
35A
Exercise of functions
35A Exercise of functions
35A Exercise of functions
The Minister must not exercise a function under, or conferred by, this division unless for a purpose that is consistent with the objects of this Act.
s 35A: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
35B
Dealing with property
35B Dealing with property
35B Dealing with property
The Minister may purchase, exchange, take on lease, hold, dispose of and otherwise deal with property.
s 35B: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
35C
Acquisition of land
35C Acquisition of land
35C Acquisition of land
(1) The Minister may, for the purposes of this Act, acquire land, including an interest in land, by agreement or by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.
(2) For the purposes of the Public Works and Procurement Act 1912, an acquisition of land by the Minister is taken to be for an authorised work and the Minister is, in relation to that authorised work, taken to be the Constructing Authority.
(1) The Minister may acquire by gift, bequest or devise any property for any of the purposes of this Act and may agree to, and carry out the conditions of, the gift, bequest or devise.
(2) The rule of law relating to remoteness of vesting does not apply to a condition of a gift, bequest or devise to which the Minister has agreed.
s 35D: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
35E
Surrender of land
35E Surrender of land
35E Surrender of land
(1) The Minister may accept a surrender of land leased, dedicated or granted under this Act.
(2) For this section—
(a) section 19(2)–(6) is taken to apply to the Minister in relation to the acceptance of a surrender of land under this section, and
(b) references to the Corporation in section 19(2)–(6) are to be read as references to the Minister.
s 35E: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
35F
Functions of Corporation apply to Minister
35F Functions of Corporation apply to Minister
35F Functions of Corporation apply to Minister
(1) The Minister has the same functions as the Corporation has under relevant legislation.
(2) For this section, the provisions of relevant legislation extend to the Minister as if references in the provisions to the Corporation, however described, include references to the Minister.
(3) To avoid doubt, sections 69, 69A, 69C, 72B, 73 and 74(2) extend to the Minister as if a reference in the provision to the Corporation includes a reference to the Minister.
(4) Despite subsections (1)–(3), the following provisions do not extend to the Minister merely by operation of the other provisions of this section—
(a) section 63,
(b) section 66,
(c) other provisions of relevant legislation prescribed by the regulations.
(5) This section does not limit other functions of the Minister under this division.
(6) In this section—
relevant legislation means Acts, regulations or other subordinate instruments relating to the Corporation, including the following—
Transfer of land and other assets, rights and liabilities
35G Transfer of land and other assets, rights and liabilities
35G Transfer of land and other assets, rights and liabilities
(1) The Minister may, by written order, transfer—
(a) the assets, rights and liabilities of a government agency to the Minister as specified in the order, or
(b) the assets, rights and liabilities of the Minister to a government agency as specified in the order.
(2) The Minister must not make the order unless the government agency, not including a government agency the Minister is responsible for, consents to the transfer.
(3) Schedule 2A applies to a transfer of assets, rights or liabilities by order under this section.
(4) In this section—
assets—
(a) means any legal or equitable estate or interest, whether present or future, whether vested or contingent and whether personal or assignable, in real or personal property of any description, and
(b) includes money, securities, choses in action and documents.
government agency means the following—
(a) a Minister, other than the Minister administering this Act,
(c) a NSW government agency or statutory corporation,
(d) a State owned corporation.
liabilities means any liabilities, debts or obligations, whether present or future, whether vested or contingent and whether personal or assignable.
rights means any rights, powers, privileges or immunities, whether present or future, whether vested or contingent and whether personal or assignable.
s 35G: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
35H
Minister to report to Parliament
35H Minister to report to Parliament
35H Minister to report to Parliament
(1) The Minister must, for each 12–month period commencing 1 July, prepare a statement to Parliament about the Minister’s activities to support housing development and achieve housing targets in New South Wales.
(2) The statement must include all of the following—
(a) details about the activities carried out by the Minister in the exercise of the Minister’s functions under, or conferred by, this Act during the period,
(b) details about other related, or relevant, activities carried out by the Minister in the exercise of the Minister’s functions under, or conferred by, this Act during the period,
(c) a report about progress in implementing Government policies and plans relevant to housing development and targets,
(d) an assessment of the Minister’s activities in supporting the implementation of the Government policies and plans relevant to housing development and targets.
(3) The Minister must ensure a copy of the statement is tabled in each House of Parliament no later than 12 months after the last statement was tabled.
(4) The Minister must ensure the statement is made publicly available on a NSW Government website no later than 7 days after being tabled in Parliament.
s 35H: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[4].
Part 5
Housing areas
Part 5 Housing areas
Part 5 Housing areas
36
Declaration of housing areas
36 Declaration of housing areas
36 Declaration of housing areas
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 4D)
(1) The Minister may recommend to the Governor that any area should be constituted a housing area and any such recommendation must be accompanied by a plan indicating the area proposed to be constituted a housing area.
(2) If the Minister has made a recommendation with respect to any area, the Governor may by notification published in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the area concerned declare the area to be a housing area and on the publication of the notification in the Gazette the area is constituted a housing area.
(3) The Governor may revoke any such notification on a similar recommendation and in a similar manner.
(4) The Corporation must cause a plan of the housing area to be lodged with—
(a) the Registrar-General, and
(b) the Valuer-General, and
(c) the council of the area within which the housing area is situated.
37
Consequences of declaration of housing areas
37 Consequences of declaration of housing areas
37 Consequences of declaration of housing areas
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 4D)
(1) During any period within which any notification is in force in respect of any housing area under this Part, the owner of, and any other person having an interest in, the land within the housing area must not, without the consent of the Corporation—
(a) construct, build, place, reconstruct, rebuild, demolish, damage, replace or repair any building or work or part of a building or work on the land, or
(b) sell the land or any part of the land or any interest in the land, or
(c) lease the land or any part of the land for a term exceeding one year.
Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.
(2) On the acquisition for the purposes of this Act of any land within a housing area, no compensation is payable in respect of any improvements made in contravention of subsection (1).
(3) If any transaction is entered into in contravention of subsection (1) (b) or (c), the transaction is not invalid, and the rights, powers and remedies of any person under the transaction are the same as if this section had not been enacted.
Part 6
Advances for houses, other buildings and land
Part 6 Advances for houses, other buildings and land
Part 6 Advances for houses, other buildings and land
38
Definition
38 Definition
38 Definition
A reference in this Division to land owned by a person is a reference to land held in fee simple by the person or held by the person under the Crown Land Management Act 2016.
s 38: Am 2017 No 17, Sch 4.43 [4].
39
Making of applications
39 Making of applications
39 Making of applications
(1) Any person may make an application to the Corporation under this Division.
(2) An application must be in a form approved by the Corporation.
40
Corporation may assist in obtaining a house
40 Corporation may assist in obtaining a house
40 Corporation may assist in obtaining a house
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 24)
(1) The Corporation may advance money to a person or on the person’s behalf to enable the person to erect a house on land owned by the person.
(2) The Corporation may erect a house for a person on land owned by the person.
(3) The Corporation may advance money to a person or on a person’s behalf to enable the person to purchase a house.
41
Determination of applications
41 Determination of applications
41 Determination of applications
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 25)
(1) The Corporation may grant an application under this Division unconditionally or subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, or it may refuse the application.
(2) However, the Corporation must not grant an application unless the applicant—
(a) satisfies the Corporation that the house is for the applicant’s use or for the use of a member of the applicant’s family, and
(b) satisfies such other requirements as to eligibility as may from time to time be determined by the Corporation and approved by the Minister.
(3) If the application is for the erection of a house by the Corporation on land—
(a) owned by the applicant, and
(b) subject to a mortgage or charge securing money owing by the applicant or in respect of which there is money owing to the Crown,
the amount required to discharge that mortgage or charge or that debt to the Crown may be added to the amount to be expended by the Corporation in the erection of the house.
(4) The Corporation may determine from time to time a limit on the amount that may be added to the amount to be expended as referred to in subsection (3) and the amount that may be so added must not exceed that limit.
(5) The repayment of any amount that is added under subsection (4) to an amount to be expended is to be provided for in the security given by the applicant under section 46.
42
Agreement to be entered into
42 Agreement to be entered into
42 Agreement to be entered into
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 27)
A person who makes an application for the Corporation to take action under section 40 (1) or (2) must, if the application is granted, enter into such agreement as may be required by the Corporation and pay the fee (if any) prescribed by the regulations.
43
Advice to be obtained in relation to purchase of house
43 Advice to be obtained in relation to purchase of house
43 Advice to be obtained in relation to purchase of house
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 28)
(1) Before an application for the Corporation to take action under section 40 (3) is granted, the Corporation must, after taking expert advice, determine the value of the property proposed to be purchased.
(2) The amount to be advanced by the Corporation must not exceed the value so determined or the purchase price, whichever is less.
44
Where money advanced not applied to proper purpose
44 Where money advanced not applied to proper purpose
44 Where money advanced not applied to proper purpose
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 29)
(1) If at any time, in the opinion of the Corporation, any money advanced under this Division has not been applied to the purpose for which it was advanced, or has not been carefully and economically expended, the Corporation—
(a) may refuse to pay any further instalments of the proposed advance, and
(b) may at once call in the whole amount already advanced, together with costs and expenses incurred in connection with the advance.
(2) Any amount referred to in subsection (1) (b) must immediately be repaid by the person to whom the advance in question was made.
45
Periods for repayment
45 Periods for repayment
45 Periods for repayment
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 30)
(1) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the maximum periods for repayment by instalments of advances and money expended by the Corporation under this Division.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may prescribe different periods of time in respect of different buildings having regard to the materials of which they are constructed.
46
Security for advance
46 Security for advance
46 Security for advance
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 31)
(1) A person to whom money is advanced by the Corporation under this Division or in respect of whom money is expended by the Corporation under this Division must give security to the satisfaction of the Corporation.
(2) If any money advanced or expended under this Division is secured by a mortgage of land, the mortgage must—
(a) contain covenants for keeping the mortgaged premises in repair and insured in the name of the Corporation, and
(b) be registered in the Land Titles Office.
47
Conditions annexed to land while subject to mortgage
47 Conditions annexed to land while subject to mortgage
47 Conditions annexed to land while subject to mortgage
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 33)
The following conditions apply in respect of land subject to any mortgage under this Division—
(a) the land, and any part of the land, must not be transferred, assigned, or let without the previous consent in writing of the Corporation,
(b) any transfer, assignment, or letting of the land, or any part of the land, in contravention of this section, is void, and the Corporation may cause the estate of the owner in the land to be sold,
(c) if the owner of the land becomes bankrupt, the Corporation may cause the owner’s estate in the land to be sold.
48
Application for foreclosure
48 Application for foreclosure
48 Application for foreclosure
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 34)
(1) This section applies to land that is not under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.
(2) If any amount of principal or interest due in respect of any advance made or money expended by the Corporation under this Division on the security by mortgage of land is unpaid for a period of three months after the due date, the Corporation may make an application to the Registrar-General in writing for an order for foreclosure.
(3) An application under this section may be made instead of taking proceedings in any court.
(4) An application under this section must state that—
(a) the default has been made in the circumstances referred to in subsection (2), and
(b) the land, estate or interest mortgaged has been offered for sale by public auction by a licensed auctioneer, and
(c) the amount of the highest bid at the sale was not sufficient to satisfy the amount due, together with the expenses incurred by the Corporation in connection with the sale, and
(d) notice in writing of the intention of the Corporation to make the application has been given to the mortgagor or other person entitled to the equity of redemption.
(5) An application under this section must be accompanied by a certificate of the auctioneer by whom the land was put up for sale or of some person present when the land was put up for sale and such other proof of the matters stated in the application as the Registrar-General requires.
(6) The statements made in an application under this section must be verified by statutory declaration.
(7) The Registrar-General may, at the expense of the Corporation, cause notice to be published once in the Gazette and once in each of the three succeeding weeks, in at least one newspaper circulating in the district in which the mortgaged land is situated, offering the land for sale.
(8) The notice must specify a time (not less than one month from the date of the publication of the notice in the Gazette) on or after which the Registrar-General may issue to the Corporation an order for foreclosure unless in the interval a sufficient amount has been realised by the sale of the land to satisfy the principal and interest due and all the expenses incurred by the taking of action under this section or connected with the sale.
(9) An order for foreclosure under this section, on registration under the Conveyancing Act 1919, has the effect of barring all right and equity of redemption in the land concerned on the part of the mortgagor or of any person claiming through or under the mortgagor.
49
Sale of land on default of mortgagor
49 Sale of land on default of mortgagor
49 Sale of land on default of mortgagor
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 35)
If land is sold by the Corporation under this Division, the land is freed from any charge in respect of money owed under a mortgage in favour of the Corporation or any restriction imposed by this Act.
50
Building relief to owner of land
50 Building relief to owner of land
50 Building relief to owner of land
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 39A)
The Corporation may, at its discretion, make advances on such securities and at such rates of interest and subject to such covenants, conditions and provisions as it thinks fit to impose for the purpose of enabling any person who owns land to alter, extend, paint, repair, renovate or improve buildings on that land, or to carry out other improvements on that land.
51
Corporation may assist councils to erect houses
51 Corporation may assist councils to erect houses
51 Corporation may assist councils to erect houses
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 39)
The Corporation may, subject to and for the purposes of this Act and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993, assist councils to erect houses by making grants or loans to those councils on such terms and conditions as to rate of interest and repayment or otherwise, and on such security, as the Corporation thinks fit.
52
Power to assist building societies by loans
52 Power to assist building societies by loans
52 Power to assist building societies by loans
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 38)
The Corporation may, subject to and for the purposes of this Act, assist any building society, whose objects include the erection or provision of houses for its members, by making grants or loans to the society, or subscribing for any share or loan capital of the society, on such terms and conditions as to rate of interest and repayment or otherwise, and on such security, as the Corporation thinks fit.
53
Building relief
53 Building relief
53 Building relief
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 39A)
The Corporation may, at its discretion, make advances on such securities and at such rates of interest and subject to such covenants, conditions and provisions as it thinks fit to impose for the purpose of enabling—
(a) any building of a public or civic character or any public recreation ground to be constructed, erected, renovated, repaired or extended, or
(b) any pastoral, agricultural or horticultural association, club, progress association or friendly society to extend, paint, repair or renovate buildings.
Part 7
Rental rebate
Part 7 Rental rebate
Part 7 Rental rebate
54
Application of Part
54 Application of Part
54 Application of Part
This Part applies to tenants—
(a) who are renting public housing, or
(b) who are renting housing leased in accordance with the HomeFund Restructuring Act 1993 or that is substituted for housing leased in accordance with that Act, or
(c) who belong to such class or classes of tenant as may be prescribed by the regulations.
55
Application for rental rebate
55 Application for rental rebate
55 Application for rental rebate
A tenant to whom this Part applies may make an application to the Corporation in a form approved by the Corporation for a weekly rebate of rental.
56
Grant of rental rebate
56 Grant of rental rebate
56 Grant of rental rebate
(1) The Corporation may, after making an investigation under section 58, grant to an applicant a weekly rebate of rental.
(2) The amount of rebate is to be determined by the Corporation in accordance with guidelines approved by the Minister.
57
Cancellation or variation of rental rebate
57 Cancellation or variation of rental rebate
57 Cancellation or variation of rental rebate
(1) The Corporation may, after conducting an investigation under section 58, vary or cancel any rental rebate granted under this Part.
(2) The Corporation is to determine the date (being a date occurring before, on or after the making of the determination) on which the variation or cancellation has effect or is taken to have effect.
(3) The Corporation is to give notice in writing to a tenant of any decision to vary or cancel any rental rebate being received by the tenant and is to include in the notice the date on which the variation or cancellation takes effect or is taken to have effect.
(4) If the Corporation reduces or cancels a tenant’s rental rebate under this Part with effect from a preceding date, the Corporation may, by notice in writing to the tenant, require the tenant to pay to the Corporation—
(a) an amount equal to any rental rebate or part of a rental rebate received by the tenant on or after the date that the variation or cancellation took effect to which, because of the variation or cancellation, the tenant was not entitled, and
(b) interest (at the rate prescribed under section 101 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 in respect of unpaid judgments) on any outstanding amount under paragraph (a) from a date specified in the notice, being a date not earlier than the date on which the notice is issued to the tenant.
(5) Any amount (together with interest) referred to in subsection (4) that is unpaid may be recovered by the Corporation as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
s 57: Am 2008 No 62, Sch 2.29.
58
Investigation of application
58 Investigation of application
58 Investigation of application
(1) The Corporation may make an investigation to determine the weekly income of—
(a) a person who is an applicant for, or a recipient of, a rental rebate under this Part, and
(b) any other resident of the house in which that person resides.
(2) The Corporation may require a person who is an applicant for, or a recipient of, a rental rebate under this Part to produce such evidence as the Corporation thinks fit of the person’s weekly income and of the weekly income of any other resident of the house in which that person resides.
Part 7A
Housing of registrable persons
Part 7A Housing of registrable persons
Part 7A Housing of registrable persons
pt 7A: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1].
58A
Definitions
58A Definitions
58A Definitions
In this Part—
approved community housing provider means a registered community housing provider approved by the Minister for the purposes of this Part.
(a) in the case of a tenant renting public housing—the Secretary, or
(b) in the case of a tenant renting housing subject to a concurrent lease to an approved community housing provider—the approved community housing provider.
termination of a lease includes the termination of any right of a tenant to hold over (however arising) after the expiry of the period of the lease.
s 58A: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [1].
58B
Termination of lease of registrable person in certain circumstances
58B Termination of lease of registrable person in certain circumstances
58B Termination of lease of registrable person in certain circumstances
(1) The Secretary may, on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, by written order terminate the lease of a tenant who is renting public housing and who is a registrable person.
(1A) An approved community housing provider may, on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, by written order terminate the lease of a tenant who is renting housing subject to a concurrent lease to the approved community housing provider and who is a registrable person.
(1B) An approved community housing provider may make an order under this section only with the approval of the Secretary.
(2) The Commissioner of Police may make a recommendation under this section only if the Commissioner considers that the presence of the tenant at the housing places any neighbours in the locality or the tenant at risk of being physically harmed or injured.
(3) On termination of the lease, the tenant must vacate the housing the subject of the lease.
(4) An order under this section terminating a lease operates—
(a) to give the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation or the approved community housing provider (as the case requires) an immediate right to exclusive possession of the premises concerned, and
(b) to authorise any police officer, using such force as is reasonably necessary, to enter the premises concerned and take such steps as are reasonably necessary in order to give the Corporation or the approved community housing provider (as the case requires) possession of the premises.
(5) This section extends to a lease entered into before the commencement of this Part.
s 58B: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [2]–[5].
58C
Provision of alternative housing
58C Provision of alternative housing
58C Provision of alternative housing
(1) On termination of a lease under this Part, the relevant authority must ensure alternative housing (whether or not public housing or housing subject to a concurrent lease) is made available to the tenant.
(2) The relevant authority is required to ensure that alternative housing continues to be made available to the registrable person for so long as the person would have been a tenant under the terminated lease (subject to compliance by the registrable person with the terms and conditions under which the alternative housing is provided).
s 58C: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [6] [7].
58D
No compensation payable
58D No compensation payable
58D No compensation payable
(1) No act or omission of a person in good faith in purported administration or execution of this Part gives rise to any civil liability against—
(a) the person, or
(b) the State or an authority of the State.
(2) However, the relevant authority must ensure that the tenant is repaid any rent, fee or charges for occupying the housing referable to a period after termination of the lease under this Part.
s 58D: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [3] [8].
58E
Certain termination provisions do not apply to termination under this Part
58E Certain termination provisions do not apply to termination under this Part
58E Certain termination provisions do not apply to termination under this Part
Parts 5–7 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 do not apply to or in respect of the termination of a lease under this Part.
s 58E: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2010 No 42, Sch 3.6.
58F
Protection of exercise of functions under this Part
58F Protection of exercise of functions under this Part
58F Protection of exercise of functions under this Part
(1) This section applies to a function (a protected function) conferred or imposed on any of the following persons (protected persons) by or under this Part—
(a) the Secretary (including a delegate of the Secretary),
(b) the Commissioner of Police (including a delegate of the Commissioner),
(c) an approved community housing provider.
(2) The exercise by any protected person of any protected function may not be—
(a) challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question before any court of law or administrative review body in any proceedings, or
(b) restrained, removed or otherwise affected by any proceedings.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), that subsection applies whether or not the proceedings relate to any question involving compliance or non-compliance, by a protected person, with the provisions of this Act or the rules of natural justice (procedural fairness).
(4) Accordingly, no court of law or administrative review body has jurisdiction or power to consider any question involving compliance or non-compliance, by the protected person, with those provisions or with those rules so far as they apply to the exercise of any protected function.
(5) This section has effect despite any provision of this Act or other legislation or any other law (whether written or unwritten).
(6) In this section—
exercise of functions includes—
(a) the purported exercise of functions, and
(b) the non-exercise or improper exercise of functions, and
(c) the proposed, apprehended or threatened exercise of functions.
proceedings includes—
(a) proceedings for an order in the nature of prohibition, certiorari or mandamus or for a declaration or injunction or for any other relief, and
(b) without limiting paragraph (a), proceedings in the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction of the Supreme Court or the jurisdiction conferred by section 23 of the Supreme Court Act 1970,
s 58F: Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [9].
Part 8
Joint ventures, interests in private corporations and trusts
Part 8 Joint ventures, interests in private corporations and trusts
Part 8 Joint ventures, interests in private corporations and trusts
Note.
Part 6 of the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 imposes requirements and limitations on GSF agencies covered by that Part with respect to the entry into and maintenance of financial arrangements and joint ventures.
private corporation means a corporation within the meaning of the Corporations Law, whether formed in or outside New South Wales.
subsidiary corporation means a private corporation in which the Corporation has a controlling interest.
s 59: Am 2018 No 70, Sch 3.33 [2].
60
Power to enter into joint ventures
60 Power to enter into joint ventures
60 Power to enter into joint ventures
(cf Act No 7, 1912, ss 16, 16A)
(1) The Corporation may, with the approval of the Minister, enter into a joint venture with other persons or bodies for any of the following purposes—
(a) the acquisition, development, management or disposal of land for residential, business, public or other purposes,
(b) the provision of services and products in relation to the provision of housing or to the housing industry,
(c) implementing the objects of this Act.
(2) The Corporation must not enter into a joint venture with a public authority constituted by or under an Act without the concurrence of the Minister administering that Act and the approval of the Treasurer.
(3) The Treasurer may require the Minister and the Corporation to provide information to enable the Treasurer to determine whether to give a financial arrangement approval under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 in relation to the joint venture or to grant concurrence under subsection (2).
(4) The Corporation is to comply with any conditions to which the approval or concurrence of the Treasurer is subject.
(5) Despite anything in any other Act, any public authority constituted by or under an Act is authorised and has power to enter into a joint venture referred to in this section and may do or suffer anything necessary or convenient for, or incidental to, carrying out the joint venture.
Note.
Part 6 of the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 requires a GSF agency under that Act, before entering into a joint venture arrangement, to obtain a financial arrangement approval for the arrangement unless the arrangement is authorised by a provision of that Act or the regulations or Treasurer’s directions under that Act.
s 60: Am 2018 No 70, Sch 3.33 [3] [4].
61
Powers in relation to formation of and interests in corporations
61 Powers in relation to formation of and interests in corporations
61 Powers in relation to formation of and interests in corporations
(1) The Corporation, with the approval of the Minister and for the purpose of furthering the objects of this Act—
(a) may form, or participate in the formation of, private corporations, and
(b) may acquire interests in private corporations, and
(c) may sell or otherwise dispose of interests in private corporations.
(2) The Minister must not give such an approval except with the concurrence of the Treasurer.
(3) The concurrence of the Treasurer may be given unconditionally or subject to conditions.
(4) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to requirements to be met before the concurrence of the Treasurer is given. Such a regulation may be made only on the recommendation of the Treasurer.
(5) The Treasurer may require the Minister and the Corporation to provide information to enable the Treasurer to determine whether to give concurrence under this section.
(6) The Corporation is to comply with any conditions to which the concurrence of the Treasurer is subject and is to ensure that any subsidiary corporation to which the concurrence relates complies with any such condition.
(7) A subsidiary corporation is not, and does not represent, the Crown.
(8) Schedule 2 has effect.
62
Formation of trusts
62 Formation of trusts
62 Formation of trusts
The Corporation may, but only with the approval of the Minister and the Treasurer, form or join in forming a trust for any of the purposes referred to in section 60 (1).
Part 9
Finance
Part 9 Finance
Part 9 Finance
63
Housing Account
63 Housing Account
63 Housing Account
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 8)
(1) There is to be established a Housing Account in the Special Deposits Account.
(2) The Housing Account is to consist of—
(a) all money advanced to the Corporation by the Treasurer or appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of the Corporation, and
(b) all money received in respect of land sold or leased by the Corporation under this Act, and
(c) all money directed or authorised to be paid into the Housing Account by or under this or any other Act, and
(d) all money received by the Corporation from any other source (other than money required to be paid into the Housing Reserve Fund).
(3) The Housing Account is to be applied for the purpose of enabling the Corporation to exercise its functions.
(4) All expenditure incurred by the Corporation, including salaries, is to be met from the Housing Account.
(5) The Corporation is to keep a separate account within the Housing Account in respect of the following—
(a) money transferred to the Corporation by the operation of Schedule 3 that was, immediately before the transfer, held by the Home Purchase Assistance Authority and provided to the Authority under a Commonwealth State agreement to be used for the purposes of mortgage assistance,
(b) all money made available to the Corporation under section 64.
s 63: Am 2019 No 14, Sch 1.10[1]–[3].
64
Money advanced by Commonwealth
64 Money advanced by Commonwealth
64 Money advanced by Commonwealth
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 9)
(1) Except as otherwise determined by the Treasurer of the State, any money received by the State from the Treasurer of the Commonwealth in pursuance of any enactment of the Commonwealth passed either before or after the commencement of this Act under which money is granted to the States to be applied by the States for purposes contemplated by this Act, is to be paid by the Treasurer of the State to a special account in the Treasury.
(2) From a special account referred to in subsection (1) the Treasurer of the State, on the recommendation of the Minister, is from time to time to make available to the Corporation money to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred in carrying out the purposes for which the money was granted by the Commonwealth.
(3) This section does not apply in respect of any money received by the State that is to be applied for the purposes of the Aboriginal Housing Act 1998.
65
Proceeds of sale of certain land to be paid to Consolidated Fund
65 Proceeds of sale of certain land to be paid to Consolidated Fund
65 Proceeds of sale of certain land to be paid to Consolidated Fund
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 10)
The net proceeds of the sale of any land vested in the Corporation and of a class or description for the time being determined by the Treasurer, with the concurrence of the Minister, is to be paid from the Housing Account to the Consolidated Fund in accordance with arrangements determined from time to time by the Treasurer.
66
Establishment of Housing Reserve Fund
66 Establishment of Housing Reserve Fund
66 Establishment of Housing Reserve Fund
(cf Act No 15, 1993, s 13A)
(1) The Corporation is to establish a Housing Reserve Fund.
(2) The following amounts must be paid into the Housing Reserve Fund—
(a) contributions to the Home Purchase Assistance Fund,
(b) money that is appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of the Fund,
(c) money that is authorised or required, by or under this or any other Act or law, to be paid into the Fund,
(d) interest and any other amounts from time to time accruing from the investment of the Fund.
(3) Money may be paid out of the Housing Reserve Fund only for any of the following purposes—
(a) contributing to the funding of any mortgage and rent relief program conducted by the State in accordance with any relevant Commonwealth State agreement,
(b) contributing to the funding of rental housing and home purchase assistance programs in accordance with the State’s obligations to provide matching funds under any relevant Commonwealth State agreement,
(c) contributing to the funding of any other housing program conducted or approved by the Minister, including any program for the restructuring of a HomeFund scheme.
67
Financial year
67 Financial year
67 Financial year
(1) The financial year of the Corporation is the same as the annual reporting period for the Department under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018.
pt 9A: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
pt 9A, div 1A (s 67AA): Ins 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [2]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
pt 9A, div 1 (ss 67A, 67B): Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
pt 9A, div 2: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67C: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Am 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [3]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67D: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67E: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67F: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Subst 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [4]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67FA: Ins 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [5]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67G: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Am 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [6]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67GA: Ins 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67H: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
pt 9A, div 3: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67HA: Ins 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [8]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67I: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
s 67J: Ins 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [7]. Am 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [9]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
ss 67K–67N: Ins 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [10]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
pt 9A, divs 4–6 (ss 67O–67V): Ins 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [11]. Rep 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [3].
Part 10
Miscellaneous
Part 10 Miscellaneous
Part 10 Miscellaneous
68
Investigation
68 Investigation
68 Investigation
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 40F)
(1) The Corporation may, and whenever required by the Minister must, conduct investigations as to the methods that should be adopted to ensure the provision in the State of adequate housing accommodation on reasonable terms or at reasonable rentals.
(2) The Corporation must furnish the Minister with a report setting out the results of any investigation made under this section.
69
False or misleading statements
69 False or misleading statements
69 False or misleading statements
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if the person—
(a) makes a statement (whether orally, in a document or in any other way) knowing that the statement—
(i) is false or misleading, or
(ii) omits any matter or thing without which the statement is misleading, and
(b) the statement is made to—
(i) obtain or claim a benefit from the Corporation or the Secretary, or
(ii) deceive any member of staff of the Corporation or the Department in relation to obtaining a benefit from the Corporation or the Secretary, or
(iii) affect the rate or amount of benefit from the Corporation or the Secretary.
Maximum penalty—3 months imprisonment or 20 penalty units, or both.
(2) A person must not by means of personation or any other fraudulent device obtain or claim a benefit from the Corporation or the Secretary.
Maximum penalty—3 months imprisonment or 20 penalty units, or both.
(3) A person—
(a) who causes the commission of an offence against this section, or
(b) by whose order or direction such an offence is committed, or
(c) who aids, abets, counsels or procures or by act or omission is directly or indirectly concerned in the commission of such an offence,
is guilty in the same degree and liable to the same penalty as the principal offender.
(4) In this section—
benefit means any accommodation, rental rebate, rental subsidy or any other advantage or concession.
s 69: Am 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [1]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [8]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [10]–[12].
69A
Failure to notify of change of circumstances
69A Failure to notify of change of circumstances
69A Failure to notify of change of circumstances
(1) A person must not, with the intention of retaining or continuing to obtain a benefit to which the person knows that he or she is not entitled, fail to notify the appropriate body of any relevant change of circumstances within the time specified in subsection (2).
Maximum penalty—3 months imprisonment or 20 penalty units, or both.
(2) The appropriate body must be notified under subsection (1) within 28 days after the person first becomes aware of the relevant change of circumstances.
(3) In this section—
appropriate body means—
(a) in the case of a benefit from the Corporation—the Corporation, or
(b) in the case of a benefit from the Secretary—the Secretary.
benefit has the same meaning as it has in section 69.
relevant change of circumstances means a change in the person’s circumstances that will remove or reduce the person’s entitlement to a benefit.
s 69A: Ins 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [2]. Am 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [13]–[15].
69B
Access to information for preventing, investigating or prosecuting fraud
69B Access to information for preventing, investigating or prosecuting fraud
69B Access to information for preventing, investigating or prosecuting fraud
(1) For the purposes of preventing or investigating fraud against the Corporation or the Secretary, or prosecuting a person for any such fraud, the Corporation or the Secretary (as the case requires) may request, collect, use and disclose information from any one or more of the following registers—
(2) A person or body who maintains a register referred to in subsection (1) is, on receipt of a written request from the Corporation or the Secretary, to disclose to the Corporation or the Secretary any information held on the register that relates to the person or property in respect of which the request is made.
(3) The Corporation or the Secretary may, in relation to a request under this section for information about a person or property, disclose information about that person or property to the person or body to whom the request is being made.
s 69B: Ins 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [2]. Am 2010 No 57, Sch 1.11; 2011 No 44, Sch 3.9; 2012 No 90, Sch 2.4; 2013 No 19, Sch 4.31; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [16]–[18]; 2025 No 12, Sch 2.2[1] [2].
69C
Power to obtain information, documents and evidence to prevent or investigate fraud
69C Power to obtain information, documents and evidence to prevent or investigate fraud
69C Power to obtain information, documents and evidence to prevent or investigate fraud
(1) For the purposes of preventing or investigating fraud against the Corporation or the Secretary, the Corporation or the Secretary (as the case requires) may, by written notice, require a person to provide information, produce documents or appear before a person to give evidence and produce documents, as specified in the notice.
(2) The Corporation or the Secretary is not to make any such requirement if it appears to the Corporation or the Secretary that—
(a) the person concerned does not consent to compliance with the requirement, and
(b) the person would not, in court proceedings, be required to comply with a similar requirement on the grounds of public interest, privilege against self-incrimination or legal professional privilege.
(3) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the terms of a notice given to the person under this section is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
s 69C: Ins 2015 No 34, Sch 2 [1]. Am 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [19]–[21].
70
Misuse of information
70 Misuse of information
70 Misuse of information
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 13)
(1) If, through his or her association with the Department or the Corporation, a person has knowledge of specific information relating to proposals made, or to be made, under or for the purposes of this Act in respect of the acquisition, use, development or disposal of land and that information is not generally known but, if generally known, might reasonably be expected to affect materially the market price of that land, that person contravenes this subsection if that person—
(a) deals, directly or indirectly, in that or in any other land for the purpose of gaining a personal advantage by the use of that information, or
(b) divulges that information for the purpose of enabling another person to gain an advantage by using that information to deal, directly or indirectly, in that or in any other land.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) If, through his or her association with the Department or the Corporation, a person is in a position to influence proposals made, or to be made, under or for the purposes of this Act in respect of the acquisition, use, development or disposal of land and does influence the proposals by securing the inclusion or alteration of any matter in, or the exclusion or omission of any matter from, the proposals, that person contravenes this subsection if that person—
(a) does so for the purpose of gaining a personal advantage, or
(b) does so for the purpose of enabling another person to gain an advantage.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(3) If—
(a) a contravention of subsection (1) occurs and an advantage, referred to in that subsection, is gained from any dealing in land to which the contravention relates, or
(b) a contravention of subsection (2) occurs and an advantage, referred to in that subsection, is gained from any dealing in land which would not have been gained if the proposals concerned had not been influenced,
any person who gained that advantage is, whether or not any person has been prosecuted for or convicted of an offence in respect of a contravention of subsection (1) or (2), liable to another person for the amount of any loss incurred by that other person by reason of the gaining of that advantage.
(4) If a loss referred to in subsection (3) is incurred by reason of an advantage gained from a dealing in land, the amount of the loss is the difference between the price at which the dealing was effected and—
(a) in the case of any dealing to which subsection (1) relates, the price that, in the opinion of the court before which it is sought to recover the amount of the loss, would have been the market price of the land at the time of the dealing if the specific information used to gain that advantage had been generally known at that time, or
(b) in any case to which subsection (2) relates, the price that, in the opinion of the court before which it is sought to recover the amount of the loss, would have been the market price of the land at the time of the dealing if the proposals concerned had not been influenced.
(5) An action to recover a loss, referred to in subsection (3), may not be brought more than 5 years after the dealing in land in relation to which the loss was incurred.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a person is associated with the Department or the Corporation—
(a) if the person is employed in the Department or a member of staff of the Corporation, or
(c) if the person is a councillor or an employee of a council, or
(d) if the person acts or has acted as banker, Australian legal practitioner, auditor or professional adviser or in any other capacity for the Department, the Corporation, the Minister, the department in which the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 is administered or a council, or
(e) if the person is a director, manager or secretary of a body corporate associated by virtue of paragraph (d).
s 70: Am 2005 No 98, Sch 3.32; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [9]–[11]; 2025 No 2, Sch 1[5].
71
Disclosure of information
71 Disclosure of information
71 Disclosure of information
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 14)
(1) A person must not disclose any information obtained in connection with the administration or execution of this Act (or any other Act conferring or imposing functions on the Corporation) unless that disclosure is made—
(a) with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained, or
(b) in connection with the administration or execution of this Act (or any such other Act), or
(c) for the purposes of any legal proceedings arising out of this Act (or any such other Act) or of any report of any such proceedings, or
(d) in accordance with a requirement imposed under the Ombudsman Act 1974, or
(d1) to a law enforcement agency for the purposes of law enforcement (including in connection with the investigation of an offence) or ascertaining the whereabouts of an individual who has been reported to a police officer as a missing person, or
(e) with other lawful excuse.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) In this section—
law enforcement agency means any of the following—
(a) the NSW Police Force, or the police force of another State or a Territory,
(b) the New South Wales Crime Commission,
(c) the Australian Federal Police,
(d) the Australian Crime Commission,
(e) the Director of Public Prosecutions of New South Wales, of another State or a Territory, or of the Commonwealth,
(f) the Department of Communities and Justice,
(g) the Office of the Sheriff of New South Wales,
(h) a person or body prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
s 71: Am 2019 No 20, Sch 1.13[1] [2].
72
Service of documents
72 Service of documents
72 Service of documents
(1) A document may be served on the Corporation by leaving it at, or by sending it by post to—
(a) the office of the Corporation, or
(b) if it has more than one office, any one of its offices.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the operation of any provision of a law or of the rules of a court authorising a document to be served on the Corporation in a manner not provided for by subsection (1).
72A
Persons living with tenants liable to repay certain amounts
72A Persons living with tenants liable to repay certain amounts
72A Persons living with tenants liable to repay certain amounts
A person is jointly and severally liable with another person (the tenant) to pay to the Corporation any amount that the tenant is liable to pay to the Corporation if—
(a) the person lives or has lived with the tenant, and
(b) the tenant is liable to pay the amount to the Corporation because the tenant improperly obtained a rental rebate or any other advantage or concession to which the tenant was not entitled because of the person living with the tenant, and
(c) the person was over 18 years of age at the time the tenant became liable to pay the amount and knew, or should reasonably have suspected, that the tenant was improperly obtaining the rental rebate or the other advantage or concession.
s 72A: Ins 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [3].
72B
Registration of debt as charge on land
72B Registration of debt as charge on land
72B Registration of debt as charge on land
(1) The Corporation may, after obtaining an order of a court in proceedings against a person for the recovery of money, apply to the Registrar-General for registration of the order in relation to any land owned by the person (including any land owned jointly with another person).
(2) An application may not be made under this section unless—
(a) the amount payable to the Corporation under the order (or the total amount payable under the orders) to which the application relates exceeds $1,000 or such other amount as is prescribed by the regulations, and
(b) the amount, or part of the amount, is payable because the person improperly obtained a rental rebate or any other advantage or concession from the Corporation.
(3) An application under this section must define the land to which it relates.
(4) The Registrar-General must, on application under this section and lodgment of the court order, register the order in relation to the land in such manner as the Registrar-General thinks fit.
(5) There is created by force of this section, on the registration of the order, a charge on the land in relation to which the order is registered to secure the payment to the Corporation of the amount payable under the order.
(6) Such a charge ceases to have effect in relation to the land—
(a) if the Corporation certifies in writing that the amount payable under the order has been paid to the Corporation or that the Corporation has otherwise agreed to the cancellation of the charge—on registration of the cancellation of the charge by the Registrar-General, or
(b) on the sale or other disposition of the property with the consent of the Corporation, or
(c) on the sale of the land to a purchaser in good faith for value who, at the time of the sale, has no notice of the charge,
whichever first occurs.
(7) Such a charge is subject to every charge or encumbrance to which the land was subject immediately before the order was registered and, in the case of land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, is subject to every prior mortgage, lease or other interest recorded in the Register kept under that Act.
(8) Such a charge is not affected by any change of ownership of the land, except as provided by subsection (6).
(9) If—
(a) such a charge is created on land of a particular kind and the provisions of any law of the State provide for the registration of title to, or charges over, land of that kind, and
(b) the charge is so registered,
a person who purchases or otherwise acquires the land after the registration of the charge is, for the purposes of subsection (6), taken to have notice of the charge.
(10) If such a charge relates to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, the charge has no effect until it is registered under that Act.
(11) In this section, a reference to an order of a court includes a reference to a judgment of a court.
s 72B: Ins 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [3].
73
Recovery of amounts due to Corporation and Secretary
73 Recovery of amounts due to Corporation and Secretary
73 Recovery of amounts due to Corporation and Secretary
(1) Any charge, fee or other money due to the Corporation may be recovered by the Corporation as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) The Corporation may recover an amount awarded to it by a court in proceedings against a person for the recovery of money by reducing or cancelling, in accordance with Part 7, any rental rebate to which the person may otherwise be entitled.
(3) The Secretary may, by written notice, require a person to repay an amount paid to the person (or on the person’s behalf) by the Secretary by way of a rental subsidy if the Secretary is satisfied that the person is not entitled to the amount because the person obtained the amount by fraud.
(4) Any such amount is recoverable by the Secretary as a debt due to the Crown.
s 73: Am 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [4]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [22].
74
Proceedings for offences
74 Proceedings for offences
74 Proceedings for offences
(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may be disposed of summarily before the Local Court.
(2) A prosecution or proceeding in respect of an offence under this Act may only be instituted by or on behalf of the Corporation, except as provided for by subsection (2A).
(2A) A prosecution or proceeding in respect of an offence against section 69, 69A or 69C that relates to a benefit from the Secretary or fraud against the Secretary may be instituted by or on behalf of the Secretary.
(3) Proceedings for an offence against section 69 or 69A must be commenced not later than 12 months after evidence of the alleged offence first came to the attention of a member of the staff of the Corporation or the Department.
(4) If proceedings for an offence against section 69 or 69A are commenced later than 12 months after the offence was alleged to have been committed, the court attendance notice or application must contain particulars of the date on which evidence of the offence first came to the attention of a member of the staff of the Corporation or the Department.
(5) In proceedings for an offence against section 69 or 69A, the court attendance notice or application is proof, in the absence of proof to the contrary, of the date on which evidence of the offence first came to the attention of a member of the staff of the Corporation or the Department.
s 74: Am 2007 No 94, Sch 2; 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [5]; 2015 No 34, Sch 2 [2]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [23]–[25].
74A
Delegations
74A Delegations
74A Delegations
(1) The Minister may delegate the exercise of any of the following functions to a relevant person—
(a) a function of the Minister under, or conferred by, this Act, other than this power of delegation,
(b) a function of the Minister under another Act if the function arises—
(i) from the Minister’s capacity as the Minister administering this Act, or being related to the role, or
(ii) in relation to a function conferred on the Minister under this Act.
(2) A relevant person to whom the Minister has delegated a function under this section may, if authorised by the Minister, subdelegate the function to another relevant person.
(3) In this section—
relevant person means—
(a) an employee of the Department, or
(b) the Corporation.
s 74A: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[6].
75
Regulations
75 Regulations
75 Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) In particular, the regulations may make provision for or with respect to any one or more of the following—
(a) (Repealed)
(b) fees in connection with any application under this Act.
(c), (d) (Repealed)
(3) A regulation may create an offence punishable by a penalty not exceeding 25 penalty units.
s 75: Am 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [8]; 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [4].
(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 5 years from the date of assent to this Act.
(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 5 years.
Schedule 1
Schedule 1
Schedule 1 (Repealed)
sch 1: Rep 2003 No 82, Sch 3.
Schedule 2
Superannuation provisions
Schedule 2 Superannuation provisions
Schedule 2 Superannuation provisions
(Section 61 (8))
sch 2: Am 2005 No 91, Sch 3.3 [1]–[3].
Schedule 2A
Transfer of assets, rights and liabilities
Schedule 2A Transfer of assets, rights and liabilities
Schedule 2A Transfer of assets, rights and liabilities
section 35G(3)
sch 2A: Ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1[7].
Schedule 3
Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions
(Section 78)
sch 3: Am 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [9] [10]; 2008 No 7, Sch 1 [6] [7]; 2009 No 64, Sch 1 [2]; 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [12]; 2016 No 53, Sch 1 [5]; 2018 No 45, Sch 2 [26].
sch 4: Ins 2015 No 48, Sch 3.3 [1]. Am 2015 No 48, Sch 3.3 [2]–[15].
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from legislation.nsw.gov.au, CC BY 4.0.
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
1 Name of Act
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Housing Act 2001.
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
This Act commences, or is taken to have commenced, on 1 July 2001.
3 Definitions
3 Definitions
3 Definitions
In this Act—
building includes any part of a building and any appurtenance to a building, any fence, wall and any other structure or a part of a structure and any provision for lighting, heating, refrigeration, water supply, drainage or sewerage.
Commonwealth State agreement includes any agreement to which the Commonwealth and the State are parties, whether or not other persons or bodies are also parties to the agreement.
Corporation means the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation constituted by this Act.
council has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 1993.
Department means the department in which this Act is administered.
exercise a function includes perform a duty.
function includes a power, duty or authority.
Home Purchase Assistance Fund means the fund established under the trust deed entitled “Trust Deed establishing the Home Purchase Assistance Fund”, being an agreement entered into on 14 February 1989 between the State, the Department of Housing, the Treasury, Permanent Custodians Limited and Permanent Trustee Company Limited.
house or housing means any kind of dwelling.
Housing Account means the account established under section 63.
housing area means a housing area constituted under section 36.
Housing Reserve Fund means the Housing Reserve Fund established under section 66.
proprietor in relation to land means the proprietor of a legal or equitable estate of fee simple in the land.
public authority means any public or local authority constituted by or under an Act other than this Act.
public housing means housing owned or leased by the Corporation or Minister, and managed by the Department, that is leased to members of the public that meet the Department’s or the Corporation’s eligibility criteria, but does not include housing leased to a person in accordance with the or that is substituted for housing leased in accordance with that Act or housing subject to a concurrent lease to a registered community housing provider.
Makes provision for land acquisition and planning incidents. The Corporation may acquire land by agreement or compulsory acquisition under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (s 22). The Act takes acquisitions to be authorised works for relevant public works law (s 20) and gives the Corporation powers to put conditions on land sales and to record those conditions on the Torrens Register (ss 24-26).
Provides lending and security regimes. The Corporation may make advances to individuals, councils, societies and building societies for the erection, purchase or improvement of dwellings and may require security by mortgage and include covenants for upkeep and insurance (Part 6: ss 40-50).
Regulates public housing tenancy and related emergency powers. The Act enables concurrent leases with registered community housing providers, transfers tenancy rent receipts, and in Part 7A permits lease termination for tenants who are registrable persons on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, with an obligation to provide alternative housing (ss 13A, 58A-58C). Part 7 continues to provide for rental rebates and their investigation (ss 54-58).
Creates antipathy to fraud and gives investigatory information powers. The Act makes it an offence to knowingly provide false or misleading statements to obtain benefits (s 69), requires tenants to notify relevant changes within 28 days (s 69A), authorises targeted access to certain registers to prevent or investigate fraud and gives the Corporation and Secretary powers to require production of information and documents (ss 69B-69C). It also contains provisions limiting disclosure of information outside enumerated exceptions (s 71).
Enables transfers and reorganisation. Recent insertions allow the Minister to exercise many property powers and to transfer assets, rights and liabilities between government agencies by written order, with Schedule 2A setting out the mechanics and consequences (ss 35A-35G; Sch 2A). The Minister is required to report annually on housing development activities (s 35H).
Limits judicial review and prescribes enforcement routes in specific circumstances. Part 7A includes provisions that exclude judicial review of certain acts and protect decisions made in the administration of housing of registrable persons (s 58F). Procedural provisions govern prosecutions for fraud offences and recovery measures (s 74 and others).
The Act sets out a mixture of administrative, commercial and coercive instruments. The stated objects (s 5) are the official rationale for these mechanisms. The Act supplies the legal mechanics for delivering public and community housing, for contracting and partnering with non‑state actors, for taking and managing land, for lending and securing advances, and for policing benefit entitlement and related fraud. The text also provides several instruments that shift rights and obligations between Crown bodies and between the Crown and private parties, notably transfers of land and assets under s 35G and Schedule 2A, and the creation of concurrent leases with registered community housing providers (s 13A).
Main concepts
The Act organises its content around several recurrent legal and operational concepts. These are defined in the Act and then deployed through the powers and duties.
Corporation. The New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation is the statutory body created by the Act (s 6(1)). It is a statutory body representing the Crown (s 6(4)), its affairs are to be managed by the Secretary (s 6(2)), and it is subject to the Minister’s direction and control (s 6(5)).
Department and Secretary. “Department” means the department in which the Act is administered and “Secretary” means the Secretary of that Department (s 3). The Secretary manages the Corporation’s affairs operationally (s 6(2)) and may exercise certain delegated functions (s 15).
Public housing and registered community housing provider. Public housing is defined as housing owned or leased by the Corporation or Minister and managed by the Department and leased to persons who meet eligibility criteria, with certain exclusions (s 3). Registered community housing providers are defined by reference to the Community Housing Providers National Law (s 3; Pt 7A and s 13A operate directly with these entities).
Housing Account and Housing Reserve Fund. The Housing Account (s 63) is the main repository for funds appropriated or received in connection with the Corporation’s functions and is the account from which the Corporation meets its expenditure (s 63(3)-(4)). The Housing Reserve Fund is a separate fund for specified purposes, including matching Commonwealth State agreements and mortgage/rent relief (s 66).
Acquisition and disposal of land. The Corporation has broad powers to acquire, control, manage, develop and dispose of land subject to conditions (ss 8, 18, 22). The Act expressly links acquisitions to the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 when compulsory process is used (ss 22-23).
Concurrent leases and information sharing. The Corporation may enter concurrent leases with registered community housing providers (s 13A). On entering such leases rent receipts transfer to the community housing provider and tenants cease to be renting public housing (s 13A(2)). The section also authorises the Corporation to provide information, including personal or health information, to a registered community housing provider subject to privacy procedure safeguards (s 13A(3)-(4)).
Tenancy termination for registrable persons. Part 7A establishes a regime allowing lease termination for tenants who are “registrable persons” under the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000 on the Commissioner of Police’s recommendation (ss 58A-58B). It authorises police entry and use of reasonable force to affect possession and imposes obligations on the relevant authority to provide alternative housing (ss 58B(4), 58C).
Anti‑fraud and investigatory powers. The Act criminalises knowing false or misleading statements used to obtain benefits (s 69) and requires notification of relevant changes (s 69A). It authorises access to certain registers to prevent, investigate or prosecute fraud (s 69B) and gives the Corporation and Secretary power to require production of information and documents (s 69C). The Act also restricts disclosure of information obtained in administering the Act but lists lawful exceptions (s 71).
Commercial and investment powers. The Corporation may enter joint ventures, form or take interests in private corporations, and form trusts for housing purposes with ministerial and Treasurer approvals required in many cases (ss 60-62). The Government Sector Finance Act 2018 interplays with joint venture and financial arrangements, and the Treasurer’s concurrence or financial arrangement approval may be required (s 60 note; ss 61(2)-(6)).
Transfers and ministerial property powers. Newer insertions grant the Minister a range of property powers, including acquisition and disposal and the ability to transfer assets, rights and liabilities between government agencies by written order (ss 35A-35G), with Schedule 2A prescribing the legal effect of such transfers.
Each of these concepts is implemented by express sections in the Act. For example, the Housing Account’s constitution and permitted receipts and uses are in s 63; the Housing Reserve Fund’s constitution and permitted payments are in s 66; the Corporation’s land powers are in s 18; admission of offences and penalties are in s 69 and s 69A.
Who it affects
The Act assigns legal rights, duties and financial consequences across a range of actors. The key groups affected and how they are affected, with statutory references, are as follows.
Tenants of public housing. Tenants who rent public housing are covered by Part 7 and, if registrable under the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000, are subject to the special termination powers in Part 7A (ss 54; 58A-58B). Tenants may apply for rental rebates (s 55), may be investigated for eligibility (s 58), may have rebates varied or cancelled with retrospective recovery obligations (s 57), and must notify relevant changes of circumstances within 28 days where those changes affect entitlement (s 69A).
Registrable persons (as defined in s 58A). Where the Commissioner of Police recommends it, the Secretary or an approved community housing provider (with Secretary approval) may terminate a registrable person’s lease, authorise police entry to secure possession, and are obliged to provide alternative housing for the period the terminated tenancy would have continued (ss 58B-58C).
Registered community housing providers. They can enter concurrent leases with the Corporation (s 13A), may on the Commissioner of Police’s recommendation terminate leases for registrable persons subject to Secretary approval (s 58B(1A)-(1B)), and may be recipients of personal or health information from the Corporation provided they can meet privacy procedure thresholds (s 13A(3)-(4)).
The Corporation and the Department. The Corporation has broad powers to acquire, develop and manage housing and land (ss 7-9, 18-21, 22), may enter contracts and joint ventures (ss 12, 60), and must report to the Minister and allow inspection of its books when required (ss 16-17). The Department supplies staff and the Secretary manages the Corporation (ss 6(2), 14).
The Minister and Treasurer. The Minister directs the Corporation (s 6(5)), has new property dealing powers (ss 35B-35F), may make transfers by order with consent required from other agencies in some circumstances (s 35G(2)), and must report annually on housing activity (s 35H). The Treasurer’s concurrence is required for the Corporation to enter joint ventures with public authorities and for formation of private corporations or trusts (ss 60(2)-(4), 61(2)-(6), 62).
HomeFund borrowers and related trustees. The Schedule and Part 4 and Schedule 4 give effect to restructuring schemes for HomeFund mortgages and deal with asset transfers and liabilities related to the HomeFund programs (Schedule 4, Parts 2-3).
Owners of land in declared housing areas. When an area is declared a housing area, owners and persons with interests in land within that area must not carry out various transactions or building works without the Corporation’s consent, and contraventions attract monetary penalties and possible forfeiture consequences (ss 36-37).
Councils and public authorities. The Minister may transfer certain Local Government Act functions to the Corporation for land specified in an order (s 35). The Corporation must, as far as practicable, consult and negotiate with other public authorities in exercising its functions (s 11).
Private sector contractors and private corporations. The Corporation may contract with private parties for works, supply and services (s 12) and may form or acquire interests in private corporations with ministerial and Treasurer approvals (s 61). The schedule on superannuation (Sch 2) affects employees transferred into private corporations in which the Corporation acquires an interest.
Persons who deal in information or prospective transactions. Sections dealing with misuse of information (s 70) and disclosure (s 71) affect staff, advisers and professionals who might acquire market‑sensitive information through association with the Department or Corporation.
Who pays, and who bears financial consequences, is allocated as follows. Expenditure for corporate activities is to be met from the Housing Account (s 63(3)-(4)). Money may be advanced by the Commonwealth and held in special accounts then made available to the Corporation on Ministerial recommendation (s 64). The Treasurer may require the Housing Account to transfer net proceeds of certain land sales to the Consolidated Fund (s 65), which reduces funds available for Corporation activity. Tenants may be required to repay rebates improperly received and interest (s 57), and other persons living with tenants who knew or should have suspected the improper obtaining of benefits may be jointly liable (s 72A). The Corporation can recover debts as a court action and register charges against land where specified conditions are met (ss 73, 72B).
Decision‑makers under the Act include the Secretary (management and many operational functions, s 6(2)), the Minister (direction and control, new property powers, and reporting, ss 6(5), 35A-35H), the Treasurer (concurrence for certain transactions, s 61(2)), the Corporation (contracting and program delivery, ss 7-13), the Commissioner of Police (recommendations under Part 7A, s 58B), and the Registrar‑General for recordings linked to conditions on sale and registration of charges (ss 24-25, 72B).
Key duties and rights
The Act creates a network of statutory duties on the Corporation, the Minister, the Secretary, tenants, community housing providers and other actors and confers specific rights and entitlements. The key duties and rights, and the sections that give rise to them, are set out below.
Corporation duties and entitlements
Manage functions and financial risk. The Corporation has functions conferred by the Act and any other Act and is required to manage financial risks associated with its activities (ss 7(1)-(2)).
Acquire, develop and dispose of land. The Corporation may acquire land for residential development and public purposes, develop or make available land, enter leases and sell land subject to conditions (ss 8(2), 18, 22-26).
Provide home purchase assistance. The Corporation must develop policies, manage schemes directed by the Minister, determine eligibility guidelines and terms of loans, make loans or grants, manage loans and the Housing Reserve Fund as directed (s 9(1)-(2), s 66(1)-(3)).
Provide services and charge for them. The Corporation may carry out surveys, publish results, provide technical and financial advice and charge for services and products (s 10(1)-(4)).
Consult and negotiate. The Corporation is to consult with public authorities and, as far as practicable, consult with public housing tenants and representatives when exercising functions relating to public housing (s 11).
Enter contracts, joint ventures and form corporations. The Corporation can contract for works and services (s 12), enter joint ventures with ministerial and Treasurer approvals (s 60), and form or acquire interests in private corporations with Ministerial approval and Treasurer concurrence (s 61).
Reporting and records. The Corporation must furnish the Minister with information on its business and must allow the Minister and authorised persons to inspect all books, papers, documents and places under its control (s 16). Annual reporting is to be prepared under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 arrangements (s 17).
Minister and Secretary duties and entitlements
Direction and control. The Minister may give directions and the Corporation must furnish information and allow inspection (ss 6(5), 16).
Property and transfer powers. The Minister may exercise new functions dealing with property (purchase, lease, hold and disposal) (s 35B), acquire land (s 35C), accept gifts (s 35D), accept surrenders (s 35E), and transfer assets, rights and liabilities by written order subject to consent requirements (s 35G). The Minister must ensure annual reporting on housing development and targets is tabled and published (s 35H).
Delegation. The Secretary and the Minister may delegate functions as provided (s 15; s 74A). Delegates may sub‑delegate where authorised (s 15(1A), (2A)).
Tenants’ rights and duties
Right to apply for rental rebate. Tenants to whom Part 7 applies may apply to the Corporation for a weekly rebate of rental in approved form (ss 54-55).
Corporation’s investigative and recovery powers. The Corporation may investigate incomes of applicants and residents and require production of evidence (s 58). The Corporation may vary or cancel rebates after investigation and recover overpayments with interest and as debts (s 57).
Notification duty. A person must notify the appropriate body of any relevant change of circumstances that will remove or reduce entitlement to a benefit within 28 days (s 69A).
Termination and alternative housing for registrable persons. The Secretary (or an approved community housing provider with Secretary approval) may terminate a registrable person’s lease on a Commissioner of Police recommendation; the tenant must vacate and the relevant authority must provide alternative housing for as long as the person would have been a tenant under the terminated lease, subject to compliance with conditions (ss 58B-58C).
Community housing providers and concurrent lease rights/duties
Concurrent leases. The Corporation may enter concurrent leases with registered community housing providers in respect of Corporation‑owned housing. Rent (other than arrears) becomes payable to the community housing provider and the tenant is no longer renting public housing (s 13A(1)-(2)).
Information sharing and privacy. On entering a concurrent lease, the Corporation may provide information, including personal or health information, to the provider but must be satisfied the provider has privacy procedures to protect information before disclosing personal or health data (s 13A(3)-(4)). The tenant’s consent is not required for the Corporation to enter a concurrent lease or to provide information under s 13A(6).
Rights to contend and limits on review
Protected functions and exclusion of review. Section 58F specifies that exercise of protected functions by certain protected persons (the Secretary, the Commissioner of Police, an approved community housing provider) may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question before any court or administrative review body, and no court has jurisdiction to consider compliance or non‑compliance or rules of natural justice in relation to the exercise of a protected function. The only exception explicitly preserved is investigations or proceedings under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 (s 58F(5)).
Security, foreclosure and remedies
Securities for advances. Loans and advances under Part 6 must be secured to the Corporation’s satisfaction and registered where a mortgage is provided; covenants for repair and insurance in the Corporation’s name are required (ss 46-47).
Foreclosure and sale. Where advances are secured over land not covered by the Real Property Act, the Corporation may apply to the Registrar‑General for foreclosure after a 3 month default; the Registrar‑General may advertise and issue an order barring equity of redemption in the land on registration (s 48). Sales free the land from the charge owed under the Corporation’s mortgage (s 49).
Recovery and charges. The Corporation may recover debts as a court action and may register a court order as a charge over land if the amount exceeds a prescribed threshold and was obtained because the person improperly obtained a rebate or other advantage (s 72B). The Corporation may reduce or cancel rental rebates as a means of recovering amounts awarded (s 73).
Information duties and constraints
Disclosure restrictions. Persons must not disclose information obtained in administering the Act except in specified circumstances, and disclosure outside those exceptions attracts a penalty (s 71).
Access to registers. For fraud prevention the Corporation or Secretary may request and obtain information from specific registers, such as the NSW driver licence register, registrable vehicles register, the Real Property Act register, and certain marine safety registers (s 69B).
These duties and rights form a network: duties on the Corporation to deliver and account for services and funds (ss 63-66, 16-17), investigative and recovery powers where benefits are improvidently obtained (ss 57, 69-69C, 72B-73), property and commercial powers altered by Treasury and Ministerial oversight (ss 60-62, 35G), and specific tenancy mechanisms for registrable persons and community housing (ss 13A, 58A-58F).
Penalties and enforcement
The Act sets out criminal offences, civil recovery mechanisms and statutory enforcement powers for addressing misuse of benefits, non‑compliance with investigatory notices, information misuse, and breaches of transaction restrictions. It also prescribes prosecutorial control and limitation periods. The principal enforcement provisions and their mechanics are described below.
Criminal offences and penalties
False or misleading statements and personation. Section 69 makes it an offence to knowingly make false or misleading statements, or to omit matters that render statements misleading, for the purpose of obtaining or affecting benefits from the Corporation or Secretary. It also prohibits personation and other fraudulent devices to obtain benefits. Maximum penalty: 3 months imprisonment or 20 penalty units, or both (s 69(1)-(2)).
Failure to notify change of circumstances. Section 69A creates an offence to fail to notify the appropriate body within 28 days of a relevant change of circumstances where the person intends to retain a benefit they know they are not entitled to. Maximum penalty: 3 months imprisonment or 20 penalty units, or both (s 69A(1)-(2)).
Non‑compliance with investigatory notice. Section 69C allows the Corporation or Secretary to issue written notices requiring information, production of documents or appearance to give evidence to investigate fraud. Failure to comply without reasonable excuse is an offence with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (s 69C(3)).
Disclosure contravention. Section 71 makes unauthorised disclosure of information obtained in connection with administration of the Act an offence with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (s 71(1)).
Civil recovery and registration of charges
Recovery as a debt. The Corporation may recover charges, fees or other moneys due as a debt in a court (s 73(1)). The Corporation may reduce or cancel a rental rebate in accordance with Part 7 to recover amounts awarded by a court (s 73(2)).
Recovery of rental rebate overpayments. If the Corporation reduces or cancels a rental rebate with retrospective effect it may require repayment of overpaid sums and interest at the Civil Procedure Act rate, and recover unpaid amounts as debts (s 57(4)-(5)).
Joint and several liability. A person living with a tenant who was over 18 and knew or should have suspected improper obtaining of rebate may be jointly and severally liable with the tenant for amounts the tenant owes to the Corporation (s 72A).
Registration of court order as charge on land. After obtaining a court order for recovery of money, if the amount exceeds $1,000 or another prescribed amount and is payable because the person improperly obtained a rebate or advantage, the Corporation may apply to the Registrar‑General to register the order as a charge on the person’s land (s 72B(1)-(2)). The registration creates a charge that secures payment, is subject to prior encumbrances, and ceases on payment or sale in certain circumstances (s 72B(5)-(6)).
Foreclosure and sale. For land outside the Real Property Act regime, the Corporation may seek foreclosure after a three month unpaid default (s 48). Sale by the Corporation frees the land from the Corporation’s charge (s 49).
Administrative and coercive enforcement
Cancellation and possession on breach of sale conditions. The Corporation may cancel a contract for sale for non‑fulfilment of conditions, claim use and occupation under a formula, enter into possession of the land and house, and obtain sheriff warrants for possession (ss 26-27).
Tenancy termination and police assistance. Under Part 7A, on the Commissioner of Police’s recommendation the Secretary (or approved community housing provider with Secretary approval) may terminate the lease of a registrable person and the order gives the Corporation or provider immediate right to exclusive possession and authorises police to enter using reasonable force to effect possession (s 58B(1)-(4)). The tenant must vacate (s 58B(3)).
Recovery by Secretary of rental subsidies. The Secretary may require repayment of rental subsidies if satisfied the person obtained the amount by fraud; such amounts are recoverable as a debt due to the Crown (s 73(3)-(4)).
Proceedings and prosecutorial control. Proceedings for offences under the Act may be disposed of summarily in the Local Court (s 74(1)). Prosecutions for offences under the Act are generally to be instituted by or on behalf of the Corporation, with some fraud offences relating to Secretary benefits capable of being prosecuted by or on behalf of the Secretary (s 74(2)-(2A)). Limitation and notification provisions apply: proceedings under s 69 or 69A must be commenced not later than 12 months after evidence first came to the attention of staff of the Corporation or Department (s 74(3)-(5)).
Limitations on review and legal challenge
Exclusion of judicial review for protected functions. Section 58F applies to protected functions conferred on the Secretary, the Commissioner of Police and approved community housing providers. It states that the exercise of such functions may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question by any court or administrative review body and that no court has jurisdiction to consider questions involving compliance or non‑compliance with the Act or the rules of natural justice in respect of those functions. The provision expressly preserves ICAC investigations (s 58F(5)).
Restriction on who may prosecute. The Act restricts who may institute prosecutions to the Corporation (s 74(2)), except in specified Secretary‑related fraud offences (s 74(2A)).
Operational enforcement by information use
Access to registers for fraud prevention and investigation. Section 69B authorises requests to and disclosure from certain registers for purposes of preventing, investigating or prosecuting fraud and lists the registers (driver licence, registrable vehicles, Real Property Act register, specified marine safety registers). Register custodians must disclose on written request and the Corporation or Secretary may disclose information about the person or property to the person/body to whom the request is made (s 69B(1)-(3)).
The Act thus combines criminal sanctions, civil recovery tools (including registration of charges on land and foreclosure), administrative cancellation of benefits, and coercive powers (police‑assisted possession and statutory investigatory notices). It also contains explicit protections for the state and for public actors in relation to certain functions by limiting judicial review in narrowly defined circumstances and prescribes prosecutorial control and time limits for initiating proceedings.
How it interacts with other laws
The Act is drafted to operate alongside and to make express cross‑references to multiple pieces of New South Wales and Commonwealth law. The text supplies specific cross‑references and exceptions that govern interaction with public works, property, local government, financial governance and other regulatory regimes. The principal interactions are as follows.
Property, acquisition and planning regimes
Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. The Corporation’s power to acquire land compulsorily is exercisable in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act (ss 22(1), 23(1)). Section 23 specifically uses that Act for compulsory acquisition on failure to execute required purchase agreements or mortgages.
Public Works and Procurement Act 1912 (previously Public Works Act 1912). Sections 20 and 31 treat acquisitions or works by the Corporation or Minister as authorised works for public works law purposes, and specify that particular provisions of the Public Works Act do not apply to works constructed under this Act (ss 20(1)-(2), 31(3)). Section 35C mirrors that approach for the Minister (s 35C(2)-(3)).
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The Corporation may recommend regulations under the EPA Act concerning building (s 10(1)(e)). Schedule 2A contains a transitional clause treating planning decisions made by a transferor before a transfer order as being made by the transferee, for the purposes of the EPA Act Part 5 (Sch 2A cl 10).
Real Property Act 1900. The Act contemplates the Registrar‑General making recordings in the Register to indicate land sold by the Corporation is held subject to conditions authorised by the Act (ss 24(4)-(6), 25(1)-(4)). Section 72B(10) makes a registered order have effect only when registered under the Real Property Act where the charge relates to land under that Act.
Crown Land Management Act 2016. On withdrawal of land from the Corporation the land is taken to be reserved Crown land under the Crown Land Management Act (s 33(2)).
Financial governance and public sector rules
Government Sector Finance Act 2018. Annual reporting information for the Corporation is to be prepared for the Department under the Government Sector Finance Act and the financial year rules are aligned (ss 17, 67). Part 6 of that Act imposes requirements on GSF agencies in relation to joint ventures and financial arrangements; the Housing Act includes explicit notes and cross‑references requiring Treasurer concurrence or financial arrangement approval where relevant (s 60 note; ss 61(2)-(6)).
Treasurer’s concurrence and regulations. The Corporation’s formation of private corporations and trusts and entry into joint ventures often requires Ministerial approval and the Treasurer’s concurrence, and the Treasurer can make conditions and require information (ss 60(2)-(4), 61(2)-(6), 62).
Tenancy and residential tenancies law
Residential Tenancies Act 2010. The Act expressly allows references in relevant legislation to extend to the Minister (s 35F(6)) but Part 7A provides that Parts 5-7 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 do not apply to or in respect of termination of a lease under Part 7A (s 58E). This creates a special, statutory path for termination and possession for registrable persons outside the standard residential tenancies procedures (s 58E).
Local Government Act 1993. “Council” has the definition from the Local Government Act and the Minister may by order transfer certain council functions to the Corporation and specify land in relation to which these functions are to be exercised (s 3; s 35). Section 34 also provides for dedication and vesting in council where the Corporation dedicates land for public purposes; the Local Government Act provisions apply with adaptations (s 34(3)-(4)).
Privacy, law enforcement and anti‑corruption
Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Section 69B explicitly identifies that information for fraud prevention under that provision includes personal information within the meaning of the PPIP Act. The Act requires the Corporation to be satisfied that community housing providers have privacy procedures before providing personal or health information on concurrent lease arrangements (s 13A(4)).
Ombudsman Act 1974. Section 71 lists a requirement under the Ombudsman Act as a lawful basis for disclosing information obtained in administering the Act (s 71(1)(d)).
Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. Section 58F states that its exclusion of judicial review does not apply to investigations or proceedings under the ICAC Act (s 58F(5)).
State taxation and registration regimes
Schedule 2A exempts transfers by operation of that schedule from State tax, including duties and registration fees in relation to transfers of assets, rights and liabilities effected by transfer orders, unless the transfer order provides otherwise (Sch 2A cl 11). The Schedule also contemplates certification to registration authorities to enable vesting without further conveyancing (Sch 2A cls 12-13).
Other statutory interactions and transitional arrangements
The Act expressly incorporates and carries forward, by schedule and savings provisions, prior machinery and entities (Schedules 3 and 4). For instance, Schedule 3 transfers assets and functions on the dissolution of the Home Purchase Assistance Authority to the Corporation (Sch 3 cl 7) and the Act preserves the Housing Reserve Fund established under earlier law (Sch 3 cl 9).
The Act supplies special mechanisms for use in relation to Commonwealth funding where funds are granted to the State to be applied for purposes contemplated by this Act (s 64).
Taken together, the Act creates a regulatory architecture that is tightly connected to property, planning, public works, public finance, state tax, privacy and law enforcement regimes. It inserts its own exceptions or process rules in ways that alter how other statutory regimes operate in specific circumstances, for example by excluding certain Residential Tenancies Act processes for registrable persons (s 58E), treating acquisitions as authorised works for public works law (s 20), or providing that transfers under Schedule 2A do not attract State tax (Sch 2A cl 11).
Amendment history
The Act as presented includes a number of recorded amendments and insertions across many years. The text itself contains amendment notes at specific sections and in the headings to inserted parts. The following summarises those recorded changes in the Act text as provided.
Original commencement and consolidation. The Act commenced, or is taken to have commenced, on 1 July 2001 (s 2). Section 5 and other provisions show amendment notes dating to 2001 and later.
Early and mid‑2000s amendments. Section 6, which establishes the Corporation, records amendments in 2001 (No 129) and later (s 6 note). Section 7 was amended to insert a requirement to manage financial risks (amendments noted 2006, 2015). The objects in s 5 have recorded amendments in 2001, 2005 and 2007.
Community housing and Part 9A. Part 9A and provisions relevant to community housing were inserted in 2007 and expanded in subsequent years (inscribed in the notes for Part 9A; see the note at Part 9A and Schedule 3). The Housing Amendment (Community Housing Providers) Act 2007 and the 2010 community housing amendments are listed in Schedule 3 as amending Acts requiring savings or transitional regulations (Sch 3 cl 1).
Tenant fraud and anti‑fraud measures. Part 7A (housing of registrable persons) was inserted in 2009 (Ins 2009 No 64, Sch 1). Section 58F and related provisions were inserted in 2009 and later amended in 2015 and 2018 (see notes to ss 58B, 58C, 58D, 58F). The Housing Amendment (Tenant Fraud) Act 2008 is mentioned in Schedule 3 in relation to transitional provisions for s 69A and related measures.
Fraud prevention information powers and investigatory tools. Section 69B was inserted in 2008 and subsequently amended across 2010-2018 and again in 2025 (s 69B note listing Ins 2008 No 7 and amendments up to 2025 No 12). Section 69C was inserted in 2015 (Ins 2015 No 34, Sch 2).
Concurrent leases and community housing changes. Section 13A (concurrent leases with registered community housing providers) was inserted in 2016 (Ins 2016 No 53 Sch 1).
Residential Tenancies and social housing amendments. References to the Residential Tenancies Act and the insertion and amendment of Part 7A reflect actions in 2010, 2015 and 2018 (see notes to s 58E and Schedule 3 Part 6 referring to the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 2018).
Financial and governance updates. The Act contains notes indicating alignment with the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 for annual reporting and joint venture financial approvals (ss 17, 60 note, 67(2)). Schedule 2 (superannuation provisions) was amended in 2005 and remains in place for particular employee transfers (Sch 2 notes).
Recent structural changes (2025). A cluster of provisions expanding the Minister’s powers in relation to land and assets, and the mechanism for transfers, are recorded as ins 2025 No 2, Sch 1. These include Division 6 of Part 4 (ss 35A-35G) and Schedule 2A, which prescribes the operation of transfer orders (s 35G note; Sch 2A heading shows Ins 2025 No 2).
Miscellaneous amendments. Many sections include recorded amendment notes in the margin (for example s 3 includes multiple amendments over 2007-2025). These annotation notes indicate an ongoing programme of amendments reflecting policy decisions across time.
The Act also repeals and replaces prior housing statutes (s 76), notably the Housing Act 1912, the Housing Act 1976 and the Housing Act 1985, and incorporates transferred provisions from the HomeFund Restructuring Act 1993 into Schedule 4. The Schedule and Part 3 savings and transitional clauses preserve previous authorities, continuity of assets and avoid duty on certain transfers (Sch 3 cls 7-9).
This summary lists the major insertions and the years annotated in the Act text. The Act’s structure shows staged reforms: community housing and registrable person regimes around 2007-2010, strengthened fraud and data powers in 2008-2015, concurrence and Treasury governance aligned with the Government Sector Finance Act 2018, and expanded ministerial asset transfer powers in 2025.
Litigation history
The Act text supplied does not cite any judicial decisions or precedent. There are no cases named in the source material provided. The Act does, however, create legal architectures that will affect litigation risk and the locus of judicial review in practice:
Restriction on judicial review. Section 58F removes jurisdiction from courts and administrative review bodies to challenge the exercise of protected functions conferred on the Secretary, the Commissioner of Police, and approved community housing providers under Part 7A. It states that such exercises “may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question before any court of law or administrative review body” and that courts have no jurisdiction to consider compliance with the Act or with rules of natural justice insofar as they apply to protected functions. The only explicitly preserved exception is proceedings under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 (s 58F(5)). This provision directly affects potential avenues for judicial review in disputes about lease termination under Part 7A.
Procedural limits on prosecutions. Section 74 limits who may institute prosecutions for offences under the Act, making prosecutions to be brought by or on behalf of the Corporation (or, in certain fraud matters, by or on behalf of the Secretary). It also imposes a 12 month rule for commencing proceedings under ss 69 and 69A once evidence comes to the attention of staff, with evidentiary presumptions for the date of discovery (s 74(3)-(5)). These procedural rules will govern challenge windows for fraud prosecutions.
Recovery and enforcement through civil courts. Although s 58F restricts review of protected functions, other enforcement mechanisms such as recovery of debts, foreclosure and application to register charges are routed through courts under ss 48, 72B and 73. Those civil routes remain available for creditors and for the Corporation to execute property‑based remedies.
Exceptions preserved for ICAC. Section 58F’s exception for ICAC investigations leaves open an independent anti‑corruption investigatory pathway even where judicial review is excluded for particular functions.
Because the Act text does not include judicial decisions, a reader should note that the statutory provisions above will be the likely focus of litigation and administrative review practice if facts trigger the specific powers. The Act creates both statutory bars and statutory routes to remedy: for example, it channels fraud enforcement through the Corporation and the Local Court with specified limitation periods (s 74), while also creating an exclusion from judicial scrutiny for certain functions (s 58F).
Gotchas
The Act contains several provisions and drafting features that produce concrete legal and operational consequences which could be overlooked. The following “gotchas” pull those mechanics into view, with section citations.
Concurrent lease changes who receives rent and alters tenant status. When the Corporation enters a concurrent lease with a registered community housing provider, any rent payable by the tenant (other than pre‑existing arrears) becomes payable to the community housing provider and the tenant is no longer renting public housing (s 13A(1)-(2)). Tenant consent is not required for the concurrent lease or for the Corporation to provide information to the provider (s 13A(6)). This alters the legal status of the tenancy and could affect eligibility for benefits or complaints processes tied specifically to public housing tenancy status.
Privacy threshold for information sharing with community housing providers. The Corporation may provide personal or health information to a registered community housing provider only if satisfied that the provider has procedures in place to ensure privacy of the information (s 13A(3)-(4)). The Act places the onus on the Corporation to be satisfied; the statute does not specify an approval process, creating an operational discretion and compliance risk for the Corporation and providers.
Termination of lease for registrable persons with police recommendation and limited review. Part 7A allows the Secretary or an approved community housing provider to terminate the lease of a registrable person on the Commissioner of Police’s recommendation (s 58B(1)-(1A)). The termination order authorises police to enter premises and take reasonable steps to give possession (s 58B(4)). Section 58F excludes judicial or administrative review of the exercise of protected functions, including questions of procedural fairness, unless ICAC standards apply (s 58F(2)-(5)). Practitioners should note that conventional tenancy remedies in the Residential Tenancies Act do not apply to such terminations (s 58E).
Alternative housing obligation is qualified by compliance. Section 58C obliges the relevant authority to ensure alternative housing is made available and continues while the registrable person would have been a tenant under the terminated lease, but only “subject to compliance by the registrable person with the terms and conditions under which the alternative housing is provided” (s 58C(2)). This creates a continuing conditional relationship that developers of policy and practitioners will need to operationalise.
Disclosure exceptions and penalty risks. Section 71 forbids disclosure of information obtained in administering the Act with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units but provides specific exceptions such as consent, law enforcement requests, Ombudsman requirements and legal proceedings (s 71(1)). Organisations and staff involved in information flows must map the exceptions carefully and ensure compliance to avoid criminal sanction.
Fraud prevention register powers reach across registers. Section 69B authorises the Corporation or Secretary to request and obtain information from multiple registers, including driver licence and real property registers, for fraud prevention and investigation. Register custodians must disclose on written request (s 69B(2)). The provision defines “information” to include personal information as per the PPIP Act (s 69B(4)), invoking privacy obligations in the course of criminal and civil enforcement operations.
Recovery tools can become charges on land with threshold. The Corporation may register an order as a charge on land if the amount exceeds $1,000 or a prescribed amount and is due to improper obtaining of a rebate (s 72B(1)-(2)). The registration creates a charge subject to prior encumbrances and may survive changes in ownership unless released by the Corporation (s 72B(5)-(8)). This is a mechanism for turning social housing overpayment enforcement into encumbrances on real property, with practical implications for individuals and their lenders.
Transfers of assets, rights and liabilities can be effectual without additional conveyance and are not covered by state tax. Schedule 2A gives the Minister power to transfer assets, rights and liabilities by order; on transfer the assets vest in the transferee without further conveyance and rights and liabilities become those of the transferee (Sch 2A cl 2). The schedule specifically states State tax is not payable on transfers effected by operation of the schedule except where the transfer order provides otherwise (Sch 2A cl 11). The schedule also removes contractual remedies for parties affected by the transfer in specific respects (Sch 2A cl 7). Those mechanics can have significant practical consequences for counterparties and for registration practice.
Conditions on sale that do not merge with transfer. Conditions included by the Corporation in a contract for sale under s 24 do not merge on completion and may be recorded on the Torrens Register to inhibit transfer without the Corporation’s consent or to create options to repurchase (ss 24(3)-(4), 25(1)-(4)). Practitioners should ensure contract reviews account for lingering conditions on title.
Treasurer and Ministerial approvals required. Joint ventures, formation of private corporations and trusts require Ministerial approval and in many cases the Treasurer’s concurrence (ss 60(1)-(4), 61(1)-(6), 62). Failure to secure those approvals will render certain transactions unauthorised. The Government Sector Finance Act 2018 interaction means some financial arrangements additionally require a financial arrangement approval (s 60 note).
Who prosecutes and limitation on commencing proceedings. Section 74 restricts prosecutions for offences under the Act to be instituted by or on behalf of the Corporation (with exceptions) and prescribes that proceedings for s 69 or 69A must be commenced within 12 months of staff first becoming aware of evidence (s 74(2)-(5)). Parties should be alert to the procedural limitations and the evidentiary presumption about the date evidence came to attention.
These provisions produce concentrated consequences for certain actors (community housing providers, registrable persons, tenants receiving rebates, private purchasers of Corporation land) and create specific operational obligations and thresholds that implementers must track.
How to comply
Compliance under the Act requires different steps by various actors. Below are practical, source‑grounded steps for the main stakeholder groups based on the statutory mechanics.
For the Corporation and Department
Governance, approvals and Treasury engagement. Before entering joint ventures, forming private corporations or trusts, obtain the Minister’s approval and the Treasurer’s concurrence where the Act requires it (ss 60(1), 61(1)-(3), 62). Provide any information requested by the Treasurer to obtain financial arrangement approval under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 (s 60(3)-(4); note).
Maintain Housing Account and Housing Reserve Fund records. Ensure the Housing Account is established as a special deposits account and that all receipts specified in s 63(2) are properly applied and recorded. Maintain a separate sub‑account for funds transferred under Schedule 3 and money made available under s 64 (s 63(5)). Ensure disbursements respect the permitted uses for the Housing Reserve Fund (s 66(3)).
Contracting and construction compliance. When contracting for works, include appropriate terms (s 12) and ensure works are consistent with environmental planning instruments (s 18(h)). For construction at the request of other public agencies, document cost recovery arrangements
registered community housing provider has the same meaning as it has in the Community Housing Providers National Law (NSW).
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.
Note.
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
s 3: Am 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [1]; 2010 No 3, Sch 1 [1]; 2012 No 59, Sch 2.1 [1]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [1]; 2016 No 53, Sch 1 [1] [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 3.21[1]; 2025 No 2, Sch 1[1] [2].
4 Notes
4 Notes
4 Notes
Notes included in this Act are explanatory notes and do not form part of this Act.
Note.
For the purposes of comparison, a number of provisions of this Act contain bracketed notes in headings drawing attention (“cf”) to equivalent or comparable (though not necessarily identical) provisions of other Acts that are the subject of repeal by this Act.
Part 2 Objects of Act
Part 2 Objects of Act
Part 2 Objects of Act
5 Objects of Act
5 Objects of Act
5 Objects of Act
(cf Act No 163, 1985, s 4, Act No 15, 1993, s 4)
(1) The objects of this Act are as follows—
(a) to maximise the opportunities for all people in New South Wales to have access to secure, appropriate and affordable housing,
(b) to ensure that housing opportunities and assistance are available to all sections of the community with housing needs,
(c) to ensure that public housing is developed as a viable and diversified form of housing choice,
(d) to ensure that public housing and community housing reflects the housing standards of the general community and is designed to cater for the ongoing needs of consumers,
(e) to maximise the opportunities for tenants of public and community housing programs to participate in the management of their housing and in the development of public and community housing policies,
(f) to ensure that the public housing system focuses on housing people who are most in need,
(f1) to ensure that the available supply of public housing is shared equitably among people who are most in need,
(g) to promote equity between levels of assistance provided to people living in public housing, community housing, private rental housing and those who own or are purchasing their homes,
(h) to maintain an efficient housing administration to ensure the effective co-ordination and provision of all housing services,
(i) to encourage social mix and the integration of different housing forms in existing and new communities,
(j) to ensure that registered community housing is developed as a viable and diversified component of the New South Wales social housing sector,
(k) to support the provision of registered community housing for people on a very low, low or moderate income,
(l) to facilitate the provision of assistance to home purchasers on low to moderate incomes,
(m) to provide for the management of such existing and future home purchase assistance schemes (including the portfolio of loans under HomeFund schemes) as the Minister directs,
(n) to provide for the funding of such other rental and home purchase assistance schemes as the Minister directs,
(o) to encourage the development of flexible and innovative financial arrangements to facilitate access to home ownership for persons in receipt of low and moderate incomes,
(p) to ensure appropriate mechanisms and forums are established to allow input into housing policy by representative community organisations and non-government agencies involved in housing policy and provision,
(q) to attract investment in public housing, including related activities such as tenant employment and the provision of integrated services,
(r) to enable the provision under this Act of corporate, technical and information technology services, in or outside New South Wales, to government and non-government agencies.
(2) In the administration of this Act, regard is to be had to the objects of this Act to the maximum extent possible taking into consideration the needs of the State and available resources, and subject to any directions of the Minister.
s 5: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [1]; 2005 No 79, Sch 2.2; 2007 No 48, Sch 1 [2]–[4].
Part 3 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
Part 3 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
Part 3 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
Division 1 Establishment of Corporation
Division 1 Establishment of Corporation
Division 1 Establishment of Corporation
6 Establishment of New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
6 Establishment of New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
6 Establishment of New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation
(1) There is constituted by this Act a body corporate with the corporate name of the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation.
(2) The affairs of the Corporation are to be managed by the Secretary.
(3) Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the Corporation by the Secretary, or with the authority of the Secretary, is taken to have been done by the Corporation.
(4) The Corporation is, for the purposes of any Act, a statutory body representing the Crown.
(5) The Corporation is subject to the direction and control of the Minister.
(6) (Repealed)
(7) The Corporation may exercise any of its functions, and may otherwise act, in the name of the Department.
(8) The Corporation and the Department are, to the maximum extent possible, to act in a complementary manner, so as to achieve a unified administration of this Act.
s 6: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [2]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 3.21[2]; 2025 No 2, Sch 1[3].
Division 2 General functions of Corporation
Division 2 General functions of Corporation
Division 2 General functions of Corporation
7 Functions of Corporation generally
7 Functions of Corporation generally
7 Functions of Corporation generally
(1) The Corporation—
(a) has the functions conferred on it by or under this or any other Act and may do such supplemental, incidental and consequential acts as may be necessary or expedient for the exercise of its functions, and
(b) has such other functions as are necessary to implement any Commonwealth State agreement, in so far as it relates to housing.
(2) The Corporation is to manage financial risks associated with its activities.
(3) (Repealed)
s 7: Am 2006 No 2, Sch 4.27 [1]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.44 [3].
8 Functions of Corporation relating to land and housing
8 Functions of Corporation relating to land and housing
8 Functions of Corporation relating to land and housing
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 9)
(1) In this section—
develop includes re-develop.
public purpose includes any purpose for which land may be acquired under any other Act.
residential development includes the expansion, establishment and re-development of residential areas.
(2) The Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to acquire land for present or future residential development and for public purposes,
(b) from time to time, as prevailing circumstances require, to develop and make available, or to make available for development by others, such of the land so acquired as the Corporation considers necessary or expedient for residential development and for public purposes.
(c), (d) (Repealed)
(3) (Repealed)
s 8: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [3]–[6].
9 Functions of the Corporation relating to home purchase assistance
9 Functions of the Corporation relating to home purchase assistance
9 Functions of the Corporation relating to home purchase assistance
(cf Act No 15, 1993, s 13)
(1) The Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to develop policies for home purchase assistance and to make recommendations to the Minister on such matters,
(b) to manage such existing and future home purchase assistance schemes as are from time to time directed by the Minister.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to determine guidelines for the eligibility of applicants for home purchase assistance,
(b) to determine the terms and conditions of loans or other assistance to those applicants,
(c) to advertise and market home purchase assistance,
(d) to provide information to the public on home purchase and home purchase assistance,
(e) to make loans or grants or give other financial assistance, with or without security, to eligible applicants,
(f) to manage loans, including to collect repayments and arrears and realise securities,
(g) to manage the Housing Reserve Fund and any contingency fund in relation to home purchase assistance, as directed by the Minister.
10 Functions relating to collection of information and provision of advice, services and products
10 Functions relating to collection of information and provision of advice, services and products
10 Functions relating to collection of information and provision of advice, services and products
(cf Act No 7, 1912, s 40G)
(1) The Corporation has the following functions—
(a) to carry out all such surveys and investigations into issues related to housing as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act, or for the purpose of ascertaining the housing conditions in any locality,
(b) to publish for general information the results of any such survey or investigation,
(c) to publish from time to time in printed form or on the Internet matter dealing with housing,
(d) to take steps by the holding of architectural competitions or otherwise to obtain the better design and arrangement of houses and of subdivisions of land for houses and related purposes,
(e) to recommend the making of regulations under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 concerning any matter relating to building,
(f) to give to any person such advice or assistance of a technical or architectural nature, and such advice of a financial nature, on matters relating to housing, as the Corporation may from time to time determine.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation may—
(a) provide to any person or organisation corporate services, information technology services, advice and associated products, and
(b) provide to persons or organisations involved in the provision of housing, or that are part of the housing industry, technical services, advice or associated products.
(3) A function referred to in subsection (2) may be exercised within or outside the State.
(4) The Corporation may charge for the provision of services, advice or products in accordance with this Act.
11 Consultation and negotiation
11 Consultation and negotiation
11 Consultation and negotiation
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 18)
(1) In the exercise of its functions the Corporation is, as far as practicable—
(a) to consult with public authorities whose functions include those of the same or of a similar nature, and
(b) to negotiate with any such authorities for the purpose of arranging or providing services and facilities on land vested in the Corporation.
(2) (Repealed)
(3) In the exercise of its functions relating to the provision of public housing, the Corporation is, as far as practicable, to consult with public housing tenants and organisations representing the interests of public housing tenants.
s 11: Am 2001 No 129, Sch 3.2 [7].
Division 3 General powers to enter contracts, agreements and concurrent leases
Division 3 General powers to enter contracts, agreements and concurrent leases
Division 3 General powers to enter contracts, agreements and concurrent leases
pt 3, div 3, hdg: Am 2016 No 53, Sch 1 [3].
12 Corporation may enter into contracts
12 Corporation may enter into contracts
12 Corporation may enter into contracts
(cf Act No 62, 1976, s 16)
(1) The Corporation may make and enter into contracts with any person for the carrying out of works or the performance of services or the supply of goods or materials in connection with the exercise by the Corporation of its functions.
(2) A contract under subsection (1) may provide for—
(a) the whole or any part of any works to be undertaken by the Corporation, or
(b) the whole or any part of the cost of any works to be paid by the Corporation, or
(c) a loan to be made by the Corporation to meet the whole or any part of the cost of any works, or
(d) the Corporation to pay the cost of providing any services during a specified period.
(3) Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the Corporation may make and enter into a contract under this section with any person for
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