FAQs

Not necessarily. We increase our number of properties through build, buy, lease and redevelopment programmes. Where we do build new housing, we may work with contract suppliers like property developers, designers and builders.

In Auckland, as that area has the highest population growth and the greatest need for housing. Over 50 percent of Housing New Zealand's waiting list is in the greater Auckland region.

As part of its day-to-day business Housing New Zealand will sell properties that no longer meet it's needs.

Properties may be sold for a variety of reasons, including the property being old and too expensive to maintain, no longer meeting customer needs, not performing financially, or it not being in the right place to meet demand.

When Housing New Zealand sells houses that money is reinvested to reconfigure the balance of the housing portfolio through redevelopment of existing property, or buying or leasing more of the right types of houses where they are needed to meet demand.  For example we need more two and four bedroom properties and less three bedroom properties.

The selling of houses that no longer meet Housing New Zealand's needs will continue as the portfolio is reconfigured to provide the right houses, in the right locations to meet demand. This will also include better utilisation of the land owned by Housing New Zealand and reducing the concentration of state housing in some areas to improve community outcomes.

Housing New Zealand has a number of programmes to ensure that its properties are kept in good condition. We have a long term programme to modernise houses built prior to 1980 and a programme to provide energy efficient features to homes built prior to 1978.Energy efficiency work involves installing or improving ceiling insulation, hot water cylinder wraps, under floor insulation and draught stopping, where as modernisation includes updating amenity levels for example kitchens, bathrooms and heating.

Overall, we spend over $160 million on maintaining the state housing portfolio, which includes about 66,000 state houses including about 1,500 community group houses, and over $60 million on other property improvements.

Housing New Zealand's Maintenance Contracts require high quality performance from maintenance contractors. The Quality Audit Team intensively monitors contractor performance. To make sure repairs and maintenance are up to standard, this may involve a visit to check work when finished. Tenants are also encouraged to say so if they're not happy with the quality of the work.