Agency details
Name: United Housing Co-operative Ltd.
Registration Category: Housing Provider
Registration Date: 13 October 2008
Agency contacts
Manager: Rob Wardell
Chairperson: Janet Liersch
Website: http://www.unitedhousing.org.au
Address: 1a Ballarat Street, Yarraville, Vic 3013
Office phone number: (03) 9689 8157
Agency mission
To provide secure and affordable rental housing in the northern and western regions of Melbourne through
a sustainable community housing co-operative.
Key statistics – as at 30 June 2013
Housing properties under management – Total 90
Long Term 90
Transitional 0
Crisis 0
Properties in agency ownership – Total 4
Tenancy units under management – Total 90
Long Term 90
Transitional 0
Crisis 0
Tenancy units in agency ownership – Total 4
Staffing – Total number 4
Total EFT 3.8
Total assets – as at 30 June 2013, $2,448,602
Annual turnover for year ended 30 June 2013, $1,172,228
Operational surplus for previous financial year ended 30 June 2013, $303,070
Registered Agency Profile continued
Scope of operations
Housing – Long Term accommodation
Housing support services – Housing information & referral; social housing advocacy; tenant member
support; member education grants program.
Other services – Social Club
Target group/s for housing – Single parent families; lower income families including unemployed, low
waged and pensioners; single people including older people; people with disabilities; refugee and migrant
families.
DHS regions covered by housing and housing support services – North & West Metropolitan
Agency history
In 1983, a group of tenants and community workers established a working group in response to the
lack of affordable housing for low income groups in the inner western suburbs of Melbourne. A small
group of community minded people decided to make a submission and the Footscray Rental Housing
Co-operative (FRHC) was established soon after.
In 1985, the Co-operative became a registered business with over 25 properties and members; and
became a community within a community that supported each other with all as pects of running and
maintaining the properties. A Committee of Management was created and property maintenance was
separated into four groups, with members responsible for all works including inspections, organising
quotes and tradespeople, painting and gardening. This provided opportunities for members to
participate in the running the Co-operative. Within about five years, the co-operative was selfsufficient.
The Co-operative managed Victorian Government owned properties from 1985 until 2006. It sig ned
the Housing Provider Framework Lease and Property Management Agreement in 2006. In the same
year, the Essendon Rental Housing Co-operative was merged with FRHC, creating a much larger cooperative of 85 properties covering a large area from Moonee Ponds to Laverton.
In 2007, the Director of Housing adopted a new regulatory framework, establishing a five year Housing
Provider Framework (HPF) lease and asking co-operatives to become registered housing providers.
This was a significant change and required the development of a professional management structure.
FRHC was registered as a housing provider in 2008 and a new five year lease was provided.
With funding provided by the Victorian Government, the Co-operative purchased four properties in the
Werribee area during 2009.
In July 2010, the Co-operative changed its name to the United Housing Co-operative, and in
December 2010 added nine properties to its portfolio as a result of housing stock redevelopment under
the Nation Building and Jobs Program.
Legal structure
United Housing Co-operative Ltd. is incorporated under the Co-operative Act 1996.