The size of social housing dwellings also differed across program types (Figure DWELLINGS.5):
- public housing dwellings were most likely to be 3 bedroom dwellings (37%), followed by 2 bedroom dwellings (31%).
- the majority of SOMIH dwellings were 3 bedroom dwellings (59%), with very few 1 bedroom dwellings (2%).
- community housing dwellings were most commonly 2 or 1 bedroom dwellings (36% and 32%, respectively).
- half of Indigenous community housing dwellings were 3 bedroom dwellings (50%) and a further 25% were 4 bedroom dwellings. Similar to SOMIH, very few were 1 bedroom dwellings (3%).
Over time, the proportion of public housing dwellings that have 3 bedrooms has declined from 39% in 2011–12 to 37% in 2017–18. This is also the case for SOMIH dwellings (down from 62% in 2011–12 to 59% in 2017–18) (Supplementary table DWELLINGS.S4.).
Number of dwellings managed
Community housing providers
At 30 June 2018, the majority of community housing providers in all states and territories, except Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia, were managing less than 50 dwellings (Table DWELLINGS.2). New South Wales (147 organisations) had the most community housing providers, and most of these providers managed less than 20 dwellings. Queensland (143) had a similarly high number of community housing providers; again, most managed less than 20 dwellings. New South Wales also had the highest number of community housing providers that managed 200 or more dwellings (25 organisations).
Table DWELLINGS.2: Community housing organisations by number of dwellings managed, by state and territory, at 30 June 2018
Number of dwellings(a)(b) managed |
NSW |
Vic |
Qld |
WA |
SA |
Tas |
ACT |
NT |
Total |
Less than 20 dwellings
|
86
|
50
|
78
|
7
|
15
|
36
|
2
|
27
|
301
|
20–49 dwellings
|
15
|
18
|
29
|
8
|
9
|
12
|
2
|
5
|
98
|
50–99 dwellings
|
18
|
8
|
13
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
51
|
100–199 dwellings
|
3
|
6
|
11
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
29
|
200 or more dwellings
|
25
|
8
|
12
|
9
|
12
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
73
|
Total organisations
|
147
|
90
|
143
|
33
|
42
|
57
|
7
|
33
|
552
|
(a) For community housing, tenancy (rental) units are reported as these are equivalent to dwellings in other housing collections.
(b) Community housing organisations for which the count of tenancy rental units is unknown are included under 'Less than 20'.
Source: AIHW National Housing Assistance Data Repository. Supplementary table DWELLINGS.7.
Indigenous community housing providers
At 30 June 2018, most (73%, or 156 organisations) Indigenous community housing providers were managing less than 50 dwellings (Table DWELLINGS.3). New South Wales had the highest number of Indigenous community housing providers (over 100 organisations). Just over half (52%) of these New South Wales providers managed fewer than 20 dwellings.
Table DWELLINGS.3: Indigenous community housing organisations by number of dwellings managed, by state and territory, at 30 June 2018
Number of dwellings(a)(b) managed
|
NSW
|
Vic
|
Qld
|
WA
|
SA
|
Tas
|
ACT
|
NT
|
Total
|
Less than 20 dwellings
|
62
|
3
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
. .
|
11
|
82
|
20–49 dwellings
|
43
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
. .
|
9
|
74
|
50–99 dwellings
|
9
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
. .
|
10
|
26
|
100–199 dwellings
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
. .
|
5
|
12
|
200 or more dwellings
|
1
|
1
|
11
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
. .
|
0
|
19
|
Total organisations
|
119
|
14
|
28
|
6
|
9
|
2
|
. .
|
35
|
213
|
. . Not applicable
(a) Only includes funded Indigenous community housing organisations (ICHOs). Where a state or territory housing authority is responsible for managing ICH tenancies for Indigenous people, they are classified as an ICHO for reporting purposes. The ACT does not have an Indigenous Community Housing program.
Source: AIHW National Housing Assistance Data Repository. Supplementary table DWELLINGS.7.
Occupancy rates
Occupancy rates describe whether a dwelling is occupied under a formal tenancy. In social housing, occupancy rates are influenced by tenancy turnover, housing supply and demand as well as the need for the redevelopment or replacement of dwellings. At times, major maintenance work needs to be completed before dwellings can be allocated to a new household.
At 30 June 2018, public housing and SOMIH both had 97% occupancy rates, slightly higher than community housing (95%). Indigenous community housing had lower occupancy rates of 93% (Supplementary table DWELLINGS.2).
There was some diversity in the occupancy rates for public housing when considering remoteness areas. Occupancy rates were higher for public housing dwellings in Major cities (97%) and Inner regional areas (97%) and lowest in Remote (95%) and Very remote areas (92%) (Supplementary table DWELLINGS.S2).
Tenantability relates to whether dwellings provide a certain level of basic amenity, and that maintenance is completed to the required minimum level. At 30 June 2018, almost all (98%) public housing dwellings were tenantable, slightly higher than the proportion of SOMIH (96%) and community housing dwellings (95%) (Supplementary table DWELLINGS.S1).
References
- ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2015. Household and Family Projections, Australia, 2011 to 2036. ABS Cat. no. 3236.0. Canberra: ABS.
- AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2019. National Social Housing Survey 2018. Cat. no. HOU 311. Canberra: AIHW.
- ABS 2016. Australian Statistical geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 – Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas. July 2016. ABS Cat. no. 1270.0. Canberra: ABS.