Queensland Department of Housing has proposed the use of partnerships as one possible option to deliver affordable housing outcomes. Although this initiative is supported by other stakeholders, many constraints have impeded its implementation for the delivery of real projects. Whilst it might find application for mixed housing projects with some relaxation on tax and/ or planning requirements, in general, affordable housing has not been seen as a valuable investment. Moreover, the partnerships require stakeholders to work across boundaries and outside their comfort zones. This initial study examines the use of soft systems framework to explore stakeholders’ views of multi-stakeholder partnerships in affordable rental housing. A series of in-depth interviews with major stakeholders representing housing providers, regulators and users in Queensland has been conducted. The existing supply of affordable rental housing in Queensland is decreasing (Queensland Community Housing Coalition, 2003a). Lack of government funding, increased production and maintenance costs of existing portfolios have limited the government’s ability to produce new supply. Moreover, shifting job security and increasing cost of living have leveraged the demand for affordable housing. Therefore, the gap between demand and supply has widened and thus an enhanced need for private sector involvement in affordable rental housing has arisen (Berry, 2001).