Glossary

A government backed entity designed to aggregate and source large amounts of capital from the bond market so as to provide lower interest, long-term loans to not-for-profit community housing providers developing housing for lower income households. The intention is that money would be raised efficiently with reduced financing costs rather than in expensive one-off transactions such as when borrowing from a bank. The benefits of a bond aggregator are that it is relatively simple and transparent; minimises the impact of debt on government budgets; provides lower cost finance to community housing providers; and therefore, is likely to maximise the sustainable expansion of affordable housing stock.

Programs to help low income renters fund their rental bonds when moving into a new private rental sector dwelling. All Australian states and territories offer a number of different Rent Assistance schemes to help low-income households in the private rental market. Bond assistance loans are interest-free loans for part or full rental bond and advance rent. Some states require fortnightly repayments starting immediately, others only require that the bond be repaid at the end of the tenancy.

Urban land that was previously used for non-residential purposes, usually with an industrial, commercial or public use zoning, and often requiring remediation of contaminated soil and from other forms of pollution. Typically located in the inner- and middle-ring suburbs, brownfield sites are considered for mid-to large-scale urban renewal projects, including housing, commercial and mixed-use developments.

The process whereby developers and their financiers build multi-unit buildings and, instead of selling the units, retain them to rent to tenant households. Rents may be set at market rates or, for affordable housing, an appropriate discount to market rents could be offered with appropriate government support to make up the funding gap.

An architecture and planning term referring to the shape and configuration of buildings.