Rent from Housing New Zealand

Applying for a Housing New Zealand house

Housing New Zealand Corporation supplies houses, commonly known as state houses, to New Zealanders who have the highest need for housing, for the time of their need. So when you apply for a state house or flat, we need to consider all the options available to you, and whether you are in urgent need of a state house. To do this we will ask you questions about your income and current situation. We will also advise you of the different housing options available so you have all the right options to consider for your particular situation.

The first step is to call our Customer Services Centre on 0800 801 601, select Option 3 for Applications from the menu and one of our housing advisors will take you through the pre-assessment process.

How will I be assessed for a state house?

Housing New Zealand provides state housing for those in highest need, during their time of need.

To be considered for a state house, you’ll need to have:

• New Zealand residency through citizenship or permanent resident status  (or be a Spontaneous Refugee or Asylum Seeker). .
• a low income
• few assets
• a high housing need

We conduct pre-assessments for housing need for everyone in the same way, using the key criteria above. This ensures we have a fair and equal system for deciding who is eligible for state housing.

Your pre-assessment by our housing advisors at the Customer Services Centre will tell us whether you are or may be eligible.

• If you are eligible, we’ll book you in for a full needs assessment with one of our tenancy advisors, either at your nearest Housing New Zealand office or over the phone. This will determine your level of need and how urgently you need a state house.  
  
  We will ask you to sign a privacy statement to allow us to collect and hold information about you, so that we and other agencies can help you with your housing needs.
• If you’re not eligible, this means your needs aren’t high enough to meet the criteria for a state house, but we may be able to help you access other housing options such as renting from a private landlord or making it easier for you to stay where you are through government support. Our housing advisors at the Customer Services Centre will talk to you about these options.