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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, we need to find out 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.

How will I be assessed for a state house?

To be considered for a state house you will need to have:

  • New Zealand residency through citizenship or permanent resident status, or be a Spontaneous Refugee or Asylum Seeker
  • a low income
  • not many assets (things of high value you own)
  • a high housing need.

We will also need to know about:

  • your current living arrangements
  • your housing needs
  • your weekly household income
  • how much you can afford to pay in rent
  • your housing expenses.

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

You will need to complete an “Assessment for housing assistance” form at your local Housing New Zealand office or link centre. This will tell us three things:

  • You are eligible - we will then ask you to undergo a needs assessment which determines your level of need and how urgently you need a state house.
  • You may be eligible - we will sit down with you to gather relevant information to help us decide your level of housing need.
  • You are not eligible - this means your situation isn’t critical for a state house, however, 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.

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 who may also be able to help you, can help you with your housing and related needs.