Call for sweeping state housing changes

A housing taskforce says the current state housing model has "served its time" and urged the Government to make sweeping changes.

The task force was established by Housing Minister Phil  Heatley.

Included in its recommendations are focusing the provision of state housing on those with "high needs", greater involvement of third party housing providers - such as not for profit organisations - and a wider focus on affordable housing in general.

The report estimates that the number of people in New Zealand with no shelter at all is likely to be small - fewer than 300 people - while the number of people in temporary accommodation that is unsuited for long term habitation might range from 8000 to 20000. This included a number of people, mainly Maori, living in substandard housing in rural areas.

Housing New Zealand provides about 67,700 households with dwellings, 89 per cent of which paid income related rents.

A further 480,000 households were in rental accommodation provided by the private sector, more than half of them receiving the Government's accommodation supplement.

The report notes that there has been a policy "not to terminate the leases of tenants in good standing", meaning state housing has provided secure tenure over the years.

It says the "house for life" expectation meant 22,000, or 32 per cent of Housing New Zealand tenants, had been in the same state houses for at least 10 years.

But it has also placed restrictions on Housing New Zealand Corporation's ability to provide housing to the neediest tenants, by making it difficult to resolve the problem of tenants remaining in properties which become too big for them.

It also meant that those who were paying market rent, and therefore capable or renting in the private sector, remained in state houses while others with acute need could not get a house.

Heatley said a significant number of houses were in a poor state of repair, were of the wrong size, and in the wrong places to meet demand.

"We want to ensure this significant asset is utilised to the best effect. We also want the system to be fairer and to work better for those families most in need," Heatley said.

Finance Minister Bill English said the Government would get feedback on the report before making any decisions.

"There are a number of challenges to be addressed and there is no quick fix," English said.

There would only be changes if they made the system work better and deliver the right results for people most in need.

- © Fairfax NZ News