About the National Housing Corporation Papua New Guinea's central housing agency for public housing
building communities and housing citizens since our establishment in 1990.
OUR HISTORY & Mandate
Our History
The origins of public housing delivery in Papua New Guinea trace back to the colonial-era Department of Public Utilities, later reorganised under the Department of Interior and then the Department of Lands and Urban Development. At Independence, responsibility for housing passed to the Housing Commission, which delivered rental, social and self-help housing schemes and helped establish suburbs such as Hohola, Gordons, Korobosea, Waigani, Tokarara and Gerehu in Port Moresby, along with developments in Lae, Goroka, Mount Hagen and Madang.
Following a national review of the housing and shelter sector, the National Housing Corporation was established under the National Housing Corporation Act 1990, bringing together the former Department of Housing and Housing Commission into a single organisation.
Since then, NHC has continued to deliver public housing, home ownership schemes and residential estate development across Papua New Guinea, and continues to modernise its operations — including through its ongoing digital transformation programme — to meet the country's growing housing needs.
Our Mandate
The National Housing Corporation (NHC) is Papua New Guinea's central housing agency, established under the National Housing Corporation Act 1990. NHC's mandate is to provide, manage and promote public housing, and to help eligible citizens access decent, affordable and safe living environments, in line with Government housing policy and NEC directives.
Our Values
- Responsiveness – We are responsive to the housing needs of our housing partners.
- Excellence – We strive for the best housing solutions for our people.
- Integrity – We are open and honest, and honour our commitments internally and externally.
- Leadership – We aspire to be pacesetters as the lead implementor in housing development.
- Learning – We are a learning and change organisation, growing through experience for a better housing sector.
- Customer Service – We aim to be inclusive in delivering housing solutions for our customers.
Our Mission
To be the lead pathway to sustainable urbanised homes and creating wealth for the inclusive benefit of all Papua New Guineans.
Our Vision
Building Dreams and Transforming Lives.
LEGAL MANDATE
Statutory Functions & Responsibilities
The National Housing Corporation was established by an Act of Parliament, the National Housing Corporation Act 1990. Under Section 28 of the Act, the functions of the Corporation include:
- Improving housing conditions in Papua New Guinea.
- Providing adequate and suitable housing for letting, sale or lease to eligible persons and approved applicants.
- Making advances to eligible persons and approved applicants to help them build, purchase, enlarge or improve their own homes, or discharge existing mortgages.
- Developing residential land and providing the services and associated buildings needed for human settlements.
- Purchasing or acquiring property, preparing sites, and developing and maintaining housing projects and dwellings.
- Carrying out and promoting research into urban development, human settlements, building materials and construction methods.
- Hiring out plant and equipment to eligible persons for building, enlarging or improving their dwellings.
- Providing reports and recommendations to the Minister on housing and urban development matters.
- Promoting orderly and economic urban development.
Rent Determination (Part IV of the Act) :
NHC determines an economic rent for each of its dwellings, and reviews the rent payable on a dwelling after the tenancy has been in force for two years, and every two years thereafter.
Agency Functions for Government (Section 29) :
NHC may also act as an agent of the State, or of a State instrumentality, in matters relating to residential development for its employees, and may perform related housing functions on behalf of Government bodies on agreed terms.