Developers, community housing providers and state and territory governments applied for funding for more than 50,000 homes – 25 per cent more than planned over the next five years – in just the first round of the federal government’s affordable housing tender.

Housing Australia chief executive Nathan Dal Bon on Tuesday said the government agency received funding bids for 50,167 homes in 673 applications under the tender that closed in March, showing the extent of demand for the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.