ORA homes are intended for people who contribute to their communities but are increasingly locked out of the traditional housing market.
Our eligibility framework exists to ensure homes are allocated fairly, transparently, and in a way that protects long-term affordability — not just for today’s buyers, but for future households as well.
Who ORA Homes Are For
ORA homes are primarily intended for key workers and other households facing housing affordability barriers, including:
- Teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, and carers
- Emergency services and frontline responders
- Social service workers and community support roles
- Essential trades and infrastructure workers
- Other households who contribute to community life but cannot reasonably purchase on the open market
Homes are designed to be owner-occupied, as a primary residence, and to support long-term stability rather than short-term investment.
How Eligibility Is Assessed
Eligibility is based on a small number of clear principles:
- Community contribution – priority is given to people whose work supports local wellbeing
- Genuine housing need – households who cannot access suitable housing on the open market
- Affordability – household income and assets sit within ORA’s affordability thresholds
- Local connection – applicants live or work in the region where the development is located
- Commitment to living in the home – ORA homes must be used as a primary residence
Where demand exceeds supply, applications are prioritised transparently using these criteria.
A Fair and Transparent Process
ORA uses a clear, staged application process to ensure decisions are consistent and understandable:
- Expression of Interest
- Eligibility assessment
- Orientation and information session
- Offer and allocation
Where required, ORA may also apply a prioritisation framework to ensure homes go to those with the greatest local and community need.
Protecting Affordability Over Time
Eligibility is one part of a wider system designed to keep homes affordable in perpetuity.
This includes:
- Owner-occupancy requirements
- Restrictions on speculative resale
- ORA-facilitated resale to future eligible households
These settings ensure today’s buyers are supported without closing the door behind them.
Learn More
This page provides a summary only. For full details — including definitions, income thresholds, prioritisation, resale requirements, and appeals — please refer to:
→ ORA Home Eligibility Policy (PDF)