A new online database will make it easier for local councils and property developers to partner with Community Housing Providers to deliver affordable rental housing projects across Sydney.

The state’s land and development agency Landcom and the Department of Finance and Services have created a new tool on the NSW Government’s e-Tendering and ProcurePoint sites which will prequalify Community Housing Providers (CHPs) across the state.

“Our aim is to make it easier for local councils and the development industry to partner with the not-for-profit sector and deliver housing affordability solutions for a growing Sydney,” said Landcom Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer John Brogden.

“This tool will allow Community Housing Providers to register information about their projects, services and expertise in a centralised location.”

“With the click of a mouse, local councils and the development industry will be able to filter the geographic location, scale, and type of development to find a list of affordable rental housing providers with the experience and capability to deliver it.”

NSW Federation of Housing Associations CEO, Wendy Hayhurst, said Landcom had worked closely with community housing providers to develop the online tool.

“By connecting community housing providers directly with councils and developers, the tool will help us meet growing demand in NSW for affordable rental housing in more local communities.”

“Between 2012 and 2017, community housing providers developed 1,294 new social and affordable dwellings across NSW, with another 1,406 to be added by 2020,” said Ms Hayhurst.

“This new tool will streamline the tendering process and, importantly, cut the costs involved. Dollars saved in tendering go towards more housing outcomes in the proposals.”

The new tool follows the release of new strategic directions for Landcom, which put an emphasis on housing affordability in New South Wales.

“One of Landcom’s strategic directives in the marketplace is to innovate and help deliver different housing products to meet the diverse needs of NSW,” said Mr Brogden.

“Helping the not-for-profit community housing sector facilitate the delivery of affordable and diverse housing is part of the solution to our housing affordability challenge.”

The new tool will help the development industry, agencies, councils and Landcom streamline the procurement process and reduce costs.

“For the first time, Community Housing Providers can now be targeted for specific tenders when a project is suited to them, rather than taking part in a broader, and more expensive and time consuming EOI process,” said Mr Brogden. 

The centralised database will be operated by the Department of Finance and Services and announced via the NSW Government E-Tendering website, the ProcurePoint and Landcom websites.