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Your Boarding House Approval
Boarding Houses are a form of residential accommodation provided as affordable housing in perpetuity for low income households.
Boarding houses offer numerous advantages, including steady rental income, efficient property utilisation, and flexibility in housing solutions for diverse tenant demographics. They present opportunities for positive cash flow which has recently been supported by potential government incentives.
The Boarding House rules and definitions were updated under the new State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 which was introduced in November 2021. Under the changes delivered within the Housing SEPP, Boarding Houses must now also be managed by registered community housing providers (CHPs).
Existing Boarding Houses and developments approved prior to November 2021 do not need to meet these requirements.
Here’s How We Can Help You…
Getting to the point of having the right approval for your boarding house is not an easy journey. It’s one that needs the best experience the industry has to offer. That’s why we’re here to help… We’d love to make your council approval journey for a boarding house simple and as pain free as possible
We’ve worked on over 40 boarding house projects and have dedicated town planners and designers that specialise in this type of development application.
After 29 years in industry, you’ll benefit from the wisdom we’ve gained from our past projects.
Ready to get started? Book in for your Free 30 Minute Consultation.
What’s the difference between Boarding Houses and Co-Living Housing?
While they are similar in their built form, Boarding Houses must provide affordable housing in perpetuity and be managed by registered community housing providers (CHPs).
Co-Living developments are not required to provide affordable housing, for more information see Co-Living Housing.
Under the Housing SEPP, Boarding Houses must:
- Feature small private rooms, some or all of which may have private kitchen and bathroom facilities, complemented by shared indoor and outdoor spaces which are fully furnished and ready-to-occupy
- Provide a primary place of residence for all occupants. It cannot be used for short-term tourist and visitor accommodation
- Provide affordable housing to low income households, with each household paying no more rent than would be charged under the National Rental Affordability Scheme
Planning Incentive
A density bonus of 25% may apply to boarding houses, increasing the floor space ratio allowable for the site.
What Rules Do I Need to Comply With?
Having worked on over 40 boarding house projects over the past 29 years common compliance rules and questions to consider are:
1.
Affordable housing – Given there is an ongoing need for affordable housing developments, the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 restricts council’s ability to refuse a development application based on certain conditions. It also gives bonus floor space ratio incentives of up to 25% as well as reduced private open space and car parking requirements. But what does this mean, and how does this benefit you in your application for a boarding house development with council? You may be surprised to learn that a boarding house is achievable on your site.
2.
Fire rating standards – There are many complicated local and state legislative requirements for fire rating of boarding houses. It is essential that the design of the boarding house factor in these standards. But how will you know what these standards are? How will you make sure that your chosen architect is qualified to design a boarding house that also achieves the appropriate design standards to comply with the fire rating legislation and codes?
3.
Location – You decide to apply to council for a Boarding House development in a well established suburb and within a permitted zone. However, the local residents strongly object believing it will detrimentally impact on their residential amenity, leading to lower house values. How would you address these potential issues in your development application to council? How do you demonstrate that grounds of objection to a development application will only hold legal weight if they are based on certain planning principles?
4.
Development Standards – There are grounds upon which Council cannot refuse a consent for this type of housing under the State Policy. Let us help you clearly outline how your development complies and should be approved based on matters such as local/neighbourhood character, location to transport services, bulk and scale, height, overlooking of neighbours and privacy, solar access, streetscape amenity, landscape design, private open space, accommodation sizes/facilities, suitable plan of management and parking and traffic impacts.
Project Showcase
Punchbowl, NSW
Design concept for a 22 room Boarding House development across 2 adjacent sites
Auburn, NSW
Design concept for a 10 room Boarding House on 465sqm site
Kingswood, NSW
Design concept for a 14 room Boarding House on 720sqm site