Master Agreement for community housing providers
The Master Agreement is a streamlined, modern framework to help community housing providers deliver social and affordable homes for Queenslanders who need them.
The terms of the Master Agreement
A Master Agreement is a long-term agreement between the Department of Housing and Public Works and registered community housing providers.
The agreement describes the funding conditions agreed between the parties and offers a range of benefits, including:
- replacing thousands of aged, inconsistent and restrictive contracts
- establishing a single, standardised contract per provider
- modernising terms to reflect current legislation and expectations.
The Master Agreement isn't mandatory, however many of the benefits of the new contractual arrangements will only be available to organisations signed up to the Master Agreement.
Key changes
- Proceeds of sale – providers retain 100% to reinvest in community housing.
- Longer lease term – up to 20 years for financial stability.
- Unlock equity – equity growth enables third party finance.
- Insurance – new provisions reduce risk and cost.
- Surplus retention – providers keep surplus rental income.
- More flexible use of rental receipts – Prescriptive Allowable Expenditure policy abolished.
- Reduced red tape – single set of terms replaces multiple contracts with separate requirements.
- Portfolio flexibility –providers may deal with or redevelop properties with notification (not approval).
Transition process
When providers transition to a Master Agreement will vary and is dependent on:
- provider readiness
- agreement on transition terms
- internal approvals (departmental and provider-side).
We’re engaging with an initial group of community housing providers during the early implementation phase.
If you're a registered community housing provider and wish to transition to the Master Agreement, complete the expression of interest form.
Preparation
There are some initial steps to prepare your organisation for a transition to a Master Agreement.
1: Verify your organisation's existing funding details
Review capital funding, leases and service agreements to confirm your organisation's current arrangements.
2: Identify stakeholder interests
Identify all relevant parties, including:
- the Queensland Government
- registered community housing providers (RCHPs)
- any third-party stakeholders.
3: Identify conditions in funding agreements
Identify any specific conditions or bespoke funding arrangements that apply to existing contracts.
4: Get funded assets valued (provider-owned)
The department will work with providers to identify which properties require valuation to keep costs at a minimum. In most cases, recent valuations can be utilised.
5: Appoint a primary contact
- Nominate a contact person within your organisation to be the key contact for communication between your organisation and the Department of Housing and Public Works.
- Share this information with the department when it's time to start working with the Master Agreement team.
Master Agreement documents
- Master Agreement terms (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Master Agreement Transition Deed template (PDF, 424KB)
- Master Agreement Incorporating Agreement Particulars template (PDF, 413KB)
- Master Agreement Mortgage template (PDF, 303KB)
- Master Agreement Housing Asset Intercreditor Deed template (PDF, 313KB)
- Master Agreement Delivery Kit (PDF, 939KB)
- Master Agreement Specific Security Agreement (PDF, 200KB)
- Social Housing Policy for funded Community Housing Providers (PDF, 994KB)
- Master Agreement Transition Guide for Providers (PDF, 1MB)
- Master Agreement Strategic Portfolio Statement (XLSX, 28KB)
- Master Agreement expression of interest form