Consultation has concluded

Our Draft Affordable Rental Housing Strategy aims to accelerate the supply of affordable rental housing across Randwick City.

Our city’s vibrancy depends on the people who live and work here - yet for many essential workers, young families and low-income households, securing a home in our city has become almost impossible. With an increase of more than $200 per week in the median unit rental price in the past five years, financial pressure on many of our essential workers such as nurses, teachers and hospitality staff has increased significantly, resulting in many making the difficult decision to reside further away from the very community they provide for. Similarly, many long-term residents are being forced to move further away from friends and family due to the cost of housing in the area. This growing disconnect between where people work and where they can afford to live places financial strain on households and undermines the social and economic resilience of our city.

For over 20 years, Randwick City has been at the forefront in supporting affordable housing by using planning tools to help increase supply. We’ve consistently advocated to the NSW Government for stronger action, policies and long-term housing solutions. From mandating 1% on-site affordable homes at Prince Henry in 2004, to adopting our first Affordable Housing Strategy in 2008, being granted planning powers to deliver affordable housing in 2019 and preparing affordable housing plans for key growth areas and embedding housing affordability and diversity in our Vision 2040.

Yet despite these achievements, the proportion of social and affordable housing has slipped from 7.5% of all dwellings in 2001 to just 6.1% in 2021. This 1.4% decline has intensified competition for market housing and squeezed low- and moderate-income households out of the lower end of the housing market. To reverse this trend, our draft Strategy sets an aspirational target of 7.5% social and/or affordable housing across the Randwick LGA by 2036 - restoring provision to 2001 levels and easing current and future market pressures. Achieving this target will depend on the four key priorities and corresponding actions laid out in the Strategy, each designed to drive progress toward a more equitable city.

Council is committed to stepping up efforts to address the growing challenge of rental affordability and to protect housing diversity. That’s why we’ve launched our Affordable Rental Housing Strategy - a bold plan to deliver secure, affordable and low-cost rental homes that are well-designed.

The strategy focuses on four priorities:

1. Accelerate the delivery and retention of quality affordable and low-cost housing through the use of planning provisions
2. Provision of affordable rental housing led or supported by Council
3. Collaboration and advocacy with key government organisations for increased provision of affordable housing
4. Review and establish processes for the ongoing management of affordable housing

Dive into the details

Read our FAQs for short summaries on key topics, including the difference between affordable and social housing, eligibility criteria, and Council’s role in delivering housing.

View the Draft Affordable Rental Housing Strategy to learn more about affordable housing challenges, how affordable housing is delivered across all levels of government and non-profit organisations, and details of our priorities and associated actions.

Read the Draft Affordable Housing Design Guidelines to see Council's advice for developers for when they are undertaking initial design for affordable housing.

Got questions?

Submit your question below and our Strategic Planning team will get back to you within three business days.

Have your say on our draft Strategy

• Make a submission online
• Send your submission headed ‘Draft Affordable Rental Housing Strategy’ to council@randwick.nsw.gov.au or 30 Frances St, Randwick, 2031

Consultation period: 6 August to 3 September 2025.

Consultation has concluded

Do you have a question about the Draft Affordable Rental Housing Strategy? Ask it here, and we will respond to you in three working days.

Note: Questions that include personal or identifying information will be answered privately via email. All other questions may be published publicly on this page, where everyone can see the question and our response.

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