Housing Action Plan 2026 KEY DEFINITIONS Affordable housing refers to housing for purchase and rental, including social housing, that is appropriate for the needs of very low to moderate-income households. This is generally understood to mean housing that costs no more than 30 per cent of a household’s gross income. Affordable rental housing refers to properties that are made available at rents below market rates and are affordable for low to moderate income households. Typically, this means rents are set at or below 80 per cent of market rates and not more than 30 per cent of a household’s gross income. This includes key worker housing and social housing. Build to rent (BTR) is the process whereby developers and their financiers build multiunit buildings and, instead of selling the units, retain them to rent. Rents may be set at market rent or, for affordable and social housing, at an appropriate discount to market rents. Co-operative housing is a community where members live independently and collectively manage affordable, sustainable housing. Key worker housing refers to affordable rental or purchase options for workers in essential services who often struggle to afford housing due to their income or the high cost of living in areas close to their employment. Retirement villages are a community for people aged 55 and over, offering independent or serviced living with shared amenities. Some provide optional care services and may be run by private, charitable, or not-for-profit organisations.
Secondary residences often called a “granny flat” or “ancillary dwelling,” is an additional dwelling on the same site as a main house. They are subject to specific planning rules and regulations within the Hobart Planning Scheme and must be selfcontained, have a gross floor area not more than 60m², belong to a single dwelling, and share access, parking, and water, sewerage, gas, electricity and telecommunications connections and meters. Social housing is affordable housing provided by the government and community sectors to assist people who are unable to afford or access suitable accommodation in the private rental market. It includes public housing, state owned and managed Indigenous housing and community housing. Rents are set as a proportion of household income. Student housing includes a range of living options, including residential colleges, selfcontained studio apartments or shared apartments with communal amenities. Supported accommodation is housing combined with a support service. This type of housing provides higher-level care, support or supervision for vulnerable people with particular needs. Temporary housing means residential use or development for a period of not more than 12 months commencing from the date on which an occupancy permit or temporary occupancy permit is issued in accordance with Part 17 of the Building Act 2016. Tiny houses are small dwellings, either built as a permanent structure or on a trailer with wheels.