Community housing organisations are established as either housing co-operatives or housing associations. They may be large or small organisations and provide housing for low income people or target a specific needs group. These needs groups include people with chronic housing need, people experiencing domestic violence, homeless, aged, disability groups (physical, intellectual, psychiatric, acquired brain injury, etc.), non-English speaking background groups, single parent families, and other low income people.

In fulfilling their role as a landlord, community housing organisations are generally required to abide by relevant sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 , the South Australian Co-operative and Community Housing Act 1991 and the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 , amongst others.