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Social housing provider secures major contract
A not-for-profit social and affordable housing provider has secured a significant contract as part of the NSW government’s Social Housing Management Transfer program.
Tom Lodewyke
Firms: Hall & Wilcox (Compass Housing Services); Herbert Smith Freehills (NSW Department of Family and Community Services)
Value: Undisclosed
Area: Property
Key players: The Hall & Wilcox team advising Compass was led by partner Katrina Reye (pictured).
The HSF team advising FACS was led by partner Nicholas Carney and included partners Peter Paradise and Drew Pearson, senior associates Nicholas Lazarou and Sophie Beaman, and solicitors Nick Middleton, Laura Ferraro and Marlowe Mitchell.
Deal significance: Compass won a tender to manage 1,827 properties in the Hunter Valley region through FACS’ SHMT program.
Under the second tranche of the program, around 14,000 social housing properties will be transferred to housing providers across nine regions.
The initiative is a key part of the Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW reform program.
Compass provides secure and affordable housing, as well as tenancy and property management solutions, in NSW, Queensland and New Zealand.
Prior to winning the tender, Compass managed around 4,400 properties across NSW and Queensland.
“Hall & Wilcox takes great satisfaction in working on social initiatives,” said lead partner Katrina Reye.
“Compass does excellent work in providing stable and affordable housing to those who need it most, and we feel proud to have played a role in this successful result.
“Our team’s experience in working on public-private partnerships was extremely beneficial in this tender and we look forward to advising on similar projects in future.”
Herbert Smith Freehills advised FACS on the second tranche of the program.
“We are delighted to have been part of this landmark project,” said lead partner Nicholas Carney.
“It required an understanding of complex social housing procurements and we are pleased to deliver ‘tenant-first’ outcomes through sustainable collaborations between the government and the not-for-profit sector.
“To complete not just one, but nine of these service packages in a very short time period is an incredible achievement for all those involved in the SHMT.”
Corrs Chambers Westgarth recently advised St George Community Housing on its own SHMT bid.
Pictured: Hall & Wilcox partner Katrina Reye
