About ŌCHT

ŌCHT is the largest community and affordable housing provider in Christchurch and the South Island. We build communities where people can belong.

Who we are

We are a charitable trust providing secure, affordable homes for people on low incomes across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. We own, lease, manage, and develop homes and provide support services that support stable lives and strong neighbourhoods.

We are here to serve our community, to provide affordable housing and housing services people can rely on, delivered with care, professionalism, and a long-term commitment to our community.

Why we are here

ŌCHT was established in 2016 to lease the Christchurch City Council’s social housing portfolio. We now provide homes to more than 2700 people in more than 2400 properties we’ve own and lease - and have built - in communities across Christchurch.

Our work is grounded in the belief that a secure home is the foundation for individual and community wellbeing. We also know housing affordability and availability is a real challenge for too many whanau in our city.

Our community and affordable housing services are part of the solution. By providing stable, well-managed homes, we help people put down roots, participate in their communities, and plan for the future. Everyone deserves a decent place to live and the opportunity to belong.

What we do

We provide secure, affordable housing and the services needed to support stable tenancies and strong communities over time. Our work brings together homes, people, and support in a coordinated way.

Housing and tenancy services
We are a registered Community Housing provider, an affordable rental provider and a Progressive Home Ownership provider whose services help people who cannot access or sustain suitable housing on the open market. Our specialist tenancy management teams focus on long-term stability, working alongside tenants to support sustainable tenancies for as long as they are needed. We are also a partner in our city’s homelessness response programme, Housing First Ōtautahi, to support people with complex housing needs.

Homes and maintenance
We own, manage, and develop warm, well-designed homes across Christchurch. Our in-house maintenance team takes a proactive, lifecycle approach to caring for properties, ensuring homes remain safe, dry, and comfortable now and into the future. We plan and invest for the long term, treating our housing as a community asset - and since 2019, we have grown that asset with nearly 400 new homes we’ve built in communities across Christchurch.

Support and pathways
We offer a range of voluntary support services designed to strengthen tenancies and promote independence. These include settling-in support, digital coaching, and employment coaching, which all help tenants build skills, confidence, and connections that support long-term housing stability.

Community and connection
We believe strong communities grow when people feel heard and connected. We support tenant engagement and tenant voice through community activities and events, including creative and celebratory initiatives that recognise contribution, build pride, and strengthen neighbourhood connection.

We are committed to homes and community. We work to create the conditions for people to live well in their homes and communities.

How we work

People are at the centre of our work. We take a coordinated, relationship-based approach to tenancy management, working alongside tenants and partners to support sustainable tenancies for as long as they are needed. Our support services are voluntary and focused on strengthening housing stability, connection, and independence.

Our in-house maintenance team cares for our homes, taking a proactive approach to ensure properties remain warm, dry, and comfortable now and into the future. Our homes are a long-term community investment, and we plan upgrades and renewals to ensure they continue to serve people well for generations.

Our property development pipeline aims to build 100 new homes a year; we’ve built nearly 400 sometimes award-wining homes since 2019, and we have plans for many, many more.

We work in partnership with central and local government, funders, and community organisations. Our homes and services serve our community, and our community has a stake in all our work.

We are a charitable trust, which means any surplus we generate is reinvested into improving housing and community outcomes. We were working now for now, and for our community’s future.

Our committment

We are committed to delivering housing and services that reflect dignity, quality, and care. We set high standards for how our homes are designed, built, maintained, and managed, because housing is a long-term community asset and a public trust.

Our developments are designed to be warm, dry, efficient, and enduring, and many have been recognised through civic, architectural, and building awards. We operate within clear governance frameworks and long-term delivery arrangements, supported by robust systems, professional practice, and continuous improvement.

Through responsible investment, strong partnerships, and a disciplined, long-term approach, we aim to remain a trusted community housing provider for Christchurch. Our focus is not short-term solutions, but lasting outcomes, ensuring we can continue to provide secure, affordable homes and well-managed communities now and for generations to come.

Our purpose

Our purpose is simple and enduring: to create homes and communities where people can belong.

We are here for the long haul, working alongside our community to provide housing that supports stable lives, stronger neighbourhoods, and better futures for generations to come.

Our values