In NSW, registrable boarding houses are overseen by NSW Fair Trading and undergo regular inspections by local councils to ensure compliance with health, building and fire safety regulations.
A boarding house offers lodging to its residents for a fee or compensation. Each resident typically occupies a room while sharing communal facilities like kitchens and bathrooms. In New South Wales, registrable boarding houses are overseen by NSW Fair Trading and undergo regular inspections by local councils to ensure compliance with health, building and fire safety regulations. Council’s Local Environmental Plans define a boarding house as a building or place:
- (a) that provides residents with a principal place of residence for at least 3 months, and
- (b) that contains shared facilities, such as a communal living room, bathroom, kitchen or laundry, and
- (c) that contains rooms, some or all of which may have private kitchen and bathroom facilities, and
- (d) used to provide affordable housing, and
- (e) if not carried out by or on behalf of the Land and Housing Corporation—managed by a registered community housing provider,
but does not include backpackers’ accommodation, co-living housing, a group home, hotel or motel accommodation, seniors housing or a serviced apartment.
All boarding houses must be operated in accordance with:
- Boarding Houses Act 2012,
- Boarding Houses Regulation 2013 and
- Local Government (General) Regulation 2021.
Council's Environmental Health Officers carry out inspections of registered boarding houses to ensure that the legislative requirements are being complied with. A fee is charged for this inspection in accordance with Council's Fees and Charges.
Building occupiers are responsible for ensuring cooling water systems are installed, maintained and operated in accordance with the law. It is important for building owners or occupiers to be aware of their responsibilities and the important role they have in protecting public health.
Building occupiers are required to register their cooling towers and warm water systems with Council. To register a new cooling tower or warm water system or to notify of any changes i.e. decommission, please complete a registration form
All Boarding houses must seek development consent. Boarding house development is assessed under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP).
You should seek independent planning advice or refer to the Council's Development Applications page for more information.
All Boarding houses must be registered with NSW Fair Trading here.
All boarding houses operating within Canterbury-Bankstown must also register their details with Council. To register a new boarding house or to notify of any changes, please complete a registration form and return to Council.
For further information and resources please view the NSW Fair Trading website Boarding houses | NSW Fair Trading