The South Australian Co-operative and Community Housing Act 1991 provides a legislative framework for the establishment, development, regulation and administration of community housing. The Act also established the South Australian Community Housing Authority (SACHA).

What is Community Housing?

Community Housing in South Australia was developed in the 1980s to provide a wider range of choices for social housing tenants and to provide an alternative to the mainstream public housing provider (i.e. Housing SA). It was seen as an opportunity to develop effective community participation in the management of social housing, whilst at the same time offering an option for tenants with special needs.

Community housing provides choice and diversity for tenants whilst encouraging self help, self management and volunteer community involvement in the provision and management of housing. At the end of 2001 there were 142 community housing organisations managing 3304 dwellings.

Members of housing co-operatives are covered by both the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 and the South Australian Co-operative and Community Housing Act 1991. Some sections of the Residential Tenancies Act have special provisions for co-operatives, such as: