Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator (AHBA) loans

Low cost, long-term loans.

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    What is the AHBA?

    Housing Australia provides low-cost finance to registered community housing providers (CHPs) for social and affordable housing projects via the AHBA. The AHBA sources funding from wholesale debt capital markets by issuing long-term social and sustainability bonds and from a line of credit provided by the Australian Government. 
     

    How it works

    The AHBA aggregates funding requirements from CHPs and finances them primarily by issuing long-term social and sustainable bonds in Australian wholesale debt capital markets. The bonds are guaranteed by the Australian Government and have a AAA (stable) credit rating from Standard and Poor’s. 

    Housing Australia can also access funding via a $1 billion line of credit from the Australian Government to advance shorter-term loans to registered CHPs for construction finance projects or to provide funding in advance of a bond issuance. 

    In each case, the cost of the AHBA’s funding is passed through to the CHP borrowers plus a lending margin to cover Housing Australia’s associated operating costs and to build capital reserves over time. 

    What can AHBA be used for?

    • Acquiring new housing
    • Constructing new housing
    • Maintaining existing housing
    • Assisting with working capital requirements and/or general corporate requirements
    • Refinancing existing debts

     

    Mixed tenure developments may also be considered subject to lending criteria.

    Eligibility criteria

    To apply for an AHBA loan, applicants must:

    • be a Community Housing Provider (CHP) registered under a law of, or under a scheme administered by, a State or a Territory
    • have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
    • have an Australian bank account
    • legally constituted and do you exist at the date of lodging this form

    To find out how to register as a CHP please visit NRSCH website.

    How to apply

    How our application process works:

    1. Consider the AHBA Guidelines 
    2. Register for an account on the Housing Australia Portal (HAP) here
    3. To download the guide on how to register for an account on the HAP, click here 
    4. If you do not receive an email notifying you of an outcome within 2 business days (or need technical assistance), contact our technical support team on (02) 8925 1800
    5. Submit an application and supporting documentation via the HAP. You can do this by clicking on “Apply Now” after you have signed into the HAP 
    6. Housing Australia will assess the application and determine key financing terms and conditions 
    7. Housing Australia will notify applicants of the outcome in writing. 

    What documents are needed to support an application?

    Documents you will need to accompany an AHBA loan application include but are not limited to:

    • CHP registration and compliance
    • evidence the loan supports affordable housing outcomes
    • demonstrated financial viability
    • details of assets offered as security
    • details of any private sector finance
    • details of any government assistance or support.

     

    Need more information?

    If you are interested in applying for an AHBA loan, we encourage you to first read the AHBA guidelines to find out more about the application process, terms and conditions.

    If you have further questions contact Housing Australia here.

    CHP financial model

    A new financial model for community housing providers (CHPs) is now available. The CHP financial model is a Microsoft Excel based tool designed to accommodate common activities undertaken by the CHP sector, providing a uniform framework that can be used by to provide historical and forecast financial information to Housing Australia during the loan origination and ongoing management processes.

    Download the CHP financial model (15.2mb)

    More information

    Monthly AHBA market update

    A monthly update to CHPs on interest rates and funding markets relevant to the finance Housing Australia can offer via the Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator.

    Download the Housing Australia Monthly AHBA Market Update here.

    Have questions?

    Contact the Housing Australia team using the details below.

    Phone: 1800 549 767

    Email: enquiries@housingaustralia.gov.au