DevelopmentWA’s affordable and social housing program supports the State Government in delivering over 5,000 new affordable and social homes in the coming years. This will contribute to increase housing supply and choice, as the current housing mix does not adequately reflect the community’s evolving needs.

As part of this program, both State and Federal Governments have invested in delivery and operation of 14 build-to-rent affordable and social apartment developments across Perth. These are located close to high frequency public transport and METRONET stations, adding approximately 1,145 new one- and two-bedroom homes, including around 20% social and 80% affordable housing.

DevelopmentWA will deliver these developments in three stages: 

• Stage 1:  six (6) projects, with initial construction due to start in 2026, located in Wellard, Woodbridge, White Gum Valley, Rivervale, Ellenbrook and Redcliffe.
• Stage 2: eight (8) projects located in Cannington, Subiaco, Malaga, Butler, Kelmscott, Bassendean, and Midland These require additional design development, to be approved by Government before construction can begin.
• Stage 3: one (1) development in the Perth CBD, located on Roe Street, Perth City Link. This development is currently undergoing further investigations, design and consideration before proceeding to delivery and is under a separate tender process.

Once completed, the developments will be sold to an appointed Community Housing Provider to operate and maintain.

The program is being funded in a partnership between the State and Federal Governments. The allocation of funding by each is broadly focussed on two key areas - delivery and operations:

• Delivery / construction: The State Government is fully funding the delivery of the 14 projects, and under a broader $443m funding package has approved approximately $284m in funding to DevelopmentWA to support an ECI process with builders, construction of stage 1 developments and the progression of detailed designs for the stage 2 developments.
  
  Further allocations of funding to progress delivery of stage 2 projects and the progression of the stage 3 project at Roe Street will be considered by Government following the completion of further work.

• Operation / management: The Federal Government is providing funding, through the Housing Australia Future Fund, that will support the appointed Community Housing Providers (CHP’s) to operate and maintain each development over a 25-year term once they are completed and have been sold by the State Government.

ECI is a collaborative approach that brings in builders early in the design phase, rather than once the building is fully designed. By working together to refine the design, explore efficient construction methods, identify & address potential issues, outline costings & cost saving opportunities, the goal is to achieve better designed and constructed apartment developments.

A Build-to-Rent (BTR) housing model is where developments are built for long-term rental, rather than private sale to individual owners. These developments remain under one owner and the apartments are rented out.

The benefit of this model is it provides a sense of community and because the developer/operator retains ownership there’s a vested interest in creating a positive, long-term living environment.

Once DevelopmentWA completes the construction of each of these 14 developments, they will be sold to a Community Housing Provider appointed by DevelopmentWA, to manage and maintain the apartment developments.

In each project around 80% of apartments are allocated for affordable housing with 20% allocated for social housing.

No, the apartments will not be sold individually. They will be owned and managed by an appointed Community Housing Providers to provide long-term rental housing options.

These apartment buildings will generally take between 18 and 36 months to build, depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Building of these 14 developments will occur in three stages. The first stage is currently due to begin early 2026, with stage two starting mid-to late 2026.  The final stage is still in early design, so a build start date is not yet known.

Each site is specifically planned in accordance with the relevant planning frameworks and to ensure that they form part of the surrounding streetscape and neighbourhood. The majority of developments will range in height from 3 to 9 levels.

The apartment developments are architecturally designed to ensure they meet high quality design standards and minimise the ability of tenants to overlook neighbouring properties. The designs are formally reviewed by the State Government Architect to ensure the standards are meet before they can proceed to the build stage.

There will be no difference in terms of the size, quality and fit out of the apartments.

Each development will have a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments included.

Appointed CHPs will have flexibility to allocate social and affordable housing tenants to apartments as demand warrants, as long as the approved ratio for each development (on average across the program approximately 80% affordable, 20% social dwellings) is maintained.

As each location is unique, these apartment developments have each been architecturally designed, including the landscaping, to integrate with their surrounding area. All apartment buildings have been designed to achieve a 7-star NatHERS rating for energy efficiency and to a silver livable standard, to ensure each development is accessible and adaptable to meet residents changing needs, including older residents as well as those with disabilities.

For a safer, vibrant and welcoming community environment, the developments have been designed using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to include lighting, natural surveillance measures and landscaping, along with external facing balconies.  DevelopmentWA’s social and affordable housing developments go beyond housing – they’re designed to create sustainable, well-connected communities where people can live, work, and thrive.

Any new development will have some impacts during their construction. Our neighbours are important to us and the DevelopmentWA project team will be working closely with our building partners to minimise construction impacts on the local area. We will also ensure that we provide as much information as possible to our neighbours ahead of any works that may be disruptive.

During construction, building contractors must develop and manage construction in accordance with a construction management plan, as approved by the local Council, including regulations on noise, hours, parking and access.

We understand that keeping as much of the existing mature trees and natural landscape is important to the community and we are committed to enhancing and retaining the natural environment where possible. 

We aim to keep as many existing trees as possible by carefully planning around them and incorporating them into the new design, such as street verges and within the developments.

In cases where existing trees cannot be retained, they will be replaced with species suited to the local landscape.

A Community Housing Provider (CHP) is an organisation, typically a not-for-profit, that provides affordable and secure rental housing to individuals and families on low to moderate incomes. They operate and manage the developments, providing support services such as tenancy financial counselling, and social services to help tenants maintain stable housing. CHPs are regulated to ensure they meet certain standards and provide good quality housing and services.

They carefully select the tenants, manage lease agreements and provide a proactive role in managing the apartments in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (RTA). In some instances, CHPs even provide onsite offices to work directly with tenants.

This approach is widely used in other states and is recognised by the Federal Government as an effective model for increasing the supply of community housing. They are appointed either by DevelopmentWA or The Department of Communities, depending on which agency or department is responsible for the development.

Affordable and social housing is needed now more than ever to support the growing number of people who are struggling with the rising cost of living and finding suitable, affordable homes.

This housing is a vital part of building diverse and vibrant communities, bringing together individuals, families, seniors, and essential workers, creating a vibrant and welcoming neighbourhood for everyone. To enable this, these apartment developments will be made up of 80% affordable and 20% social homes, ensuring a mix of tenancies in each building.

Affordable housing provides a stable long term rental option for people in our community on low to moderate incomes. This includes key workers who are essential to delivering services. This might include your favourite barista who knows your coffee order, bus driver, dental hygienist, the enrolled nurse at your local hospital, hairdresser, barber or childcare workers.

Social housing is rental housing for very low to low-income households, provided by the WA Government (public housing) or community housing providers (CHPs). It’s offered at below-market rates, with rent typically set at 25 per cent of gross household income.  Tenants are allocated through the Department of Communities ‘Public Housing Waitlist’ or the ‘Joint Waitlist’.

Most residents appreciate the housing assistance they receive, treat their homes with respect and care, and make great neighbours who contribute positively to their communities. 

From a rental perspective, social housing residents pay no more than 25% of their household assessable income in rent, plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance. To be placed on the social housing waitlist, residents must meet stipulated eligibility criteria, with the process administered by the Department of Housing and Works.

An affordable housing resident pays a maximum of 74.9% of the market rental rate for the area in which the apartments are located. In setting rents for affordable housing, it is also necessary to have regard to the affordability of the dwelling for tenants and ensure that the rent applied will not place a household under financial stress.

To be eligible for affordable rental accommodation under the Housing Australia Future Fund program, residents need to earn within the defined income thresholds as set by the Federal Government.

The current maximum income eligibility thresholds are:

It is expected that these thresholds will be escalated annually by Housing Australia, based on advice from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is noted that these rates vary somewhat from affordable housing thresholds set by the WA State Government, which may be applied for other projects not subject to HAFF funding.

Note:  The Department of Housing and Works refers to affordable housing as ‘community housing’ and Community Housing Providers as Community Housing Organisations

This housing is a vital part of building diverse and vibrant communities, bringing together individuals, families, seniors, and essential workers, creating a vibrant and welcoming neighbourhood for everyone.  To enable this, these apartment developments will be made up of approximately 80% affordable and 20% social homes.

Affordable housing offers a stable, long-term rental option for individuals and families on low to moderate incomes. This includes key workers who play essential roles in our community, such as your favourite barista, enrolled nurse, hairdresser or childcare worker.

We understand that new affordable and social housing can sometimes raise concerns and questions from neighbours. However, affordable and social housing provides a stable long term rental option for lower paid people in our community. Having a safe and secure place to call home allows them to focus on their health, families, well-being, education and careers .

Most residents appreciate the housing assistance they receive, treat their homes with respect and care, and make great neighbours who contribute positively to their communities.  

These developments provide housing on a rental basis only and will be actively managed by experienced Community Housing Providers (CHP). They focus on keeping those in need of affordable and social housing in long-term stable homes, through careful tenant selection, managing lease agreements and proactively managing the apartments in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (RTA). Tenants will be selected to ensure alignment with the community they are seeking to create and the profile of the local community.