Housing NZ - What’s the deal?
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Topic: Housing NZ - What’s the deal?
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Subject: Housing NZ - What’s the deal?
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 12:27am
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A couple of questions for those of you that live in Housing NZ houses, I'm wondering if maybe this is an option for us as opposed to renting privately because it's so costly. Not sure if we are eligible but am planning to enquire.
So firstly, are all NZ state houses in crappy unsafe areas? I'm only going by the ones I know of in Papakura, and I DEFINITELY DO NOT want to end up living there ...I mean, do they have these houses in reasonably okay areas? (Not flash flash, but safe for a female to live on her own with baby). How does it all work, just a brief explanation would be nice ... What demographic do they mostly aim their services towards? Is rent that much cheaper in comparison to just a standard rental property in Auckland? Do they come furnished? ...house is in good healthy living conditions? See I don't know all that much about Housing NZ, and what I do know ...well I can only go by the run down areas in South Auckland that people in the past have pointed out 'oh thats the state housing area' ...'all the beneficiaries live there'. *sigh* Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. I have looked on their site and I am aware that there is an office down in Papakura which I intend to go to AFTER I speak to my case manager at WINZ. Just wanted to get feedback from others first before I go stepping into something I might not like. Thanks in advance guys. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Replies:
Posted By: lovingmummyhood
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 6:08am
hi Steph, I can't answer many of your questions but do know that housing NZ is doing new subdivisions so the houses in those are definitely good healthy living conditions 
There's one lot just recently finished and another one going in near where I work, which is not a flash area but there are a lot worse places out this way. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 7:37am
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hmm... can't say much about aukland, but I know there's practically no state housing in wellington, it's all out in the hutt, so you might find it's only in *some* suburbs.
Where we are in Petone is pretty nice, the apartment blocks are on their own little street which isn't so great, but at the same time I wouldn't think it's that dangerous, and then at the end of the street there's typical nice houses. They will charge you at most 1/4 of your income after tax - this means our rent (while mike is on the student allowance) is $94 instead of the $220 value of this place. You will only get a 2bedroom place, which makes it a little limiting around here, to flats only really, but again not sure about aukland. It depends what "priority" they stick you on, how fast you will get a place. We waited 6 months, and were probably about middle priority? I think they do a A B C D scale, and if you're D you're very unlikely to get anywhere. -------------  
 
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 8:50am
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heck you can be working and still get a HNZ house, but the rent does go up the more your earning.. but like Alia said, you go on a waiting list in order of priority so those with a higher priority get first choice.
We're in a HNZ house that we've outgrown at present, and currently on their dreaded waiting list to get into a bigger house.. so I would suggest if you are looking at getting into a HNZ house do the paper work ASAP so at least you'll have a foot in the door -------------  
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 9:50am
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my mum has a HNZ house in bucklands beach... so its not always in "grotty" areas. but that is all i know... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 9:57am
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Theres HNZ houses a few streets back from us, they've recently redone all the gardens and repainted them.
The company that I work for are sub contracted to the company that does alot of the maintenance for HNZ. They are all over the place. Good luck. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 10:00am
Actually there is heeeeeeaps around the place. I see it all the time in Newtown, Te Aro, Aro Valley, Kilbirnie etc. As far as what is available, it's in fine suburbs here but the fact is that there are tonnes of houses all in the one block so you may have some not-so-desireable neighbours. |
AliaDawn wrote:Posted By: Nefertiti
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 10:14am
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Rents are charged at a 1/4 of your income as someone stated....but....
Its 25% of income up to $365 (this figure may have changed in the last 2 years since I had a HNZ home)... Then its 50% of income over this amount up to the market rent. And...if you receive family assistance via IRD they take about $11-12 (approx) for that too. |
Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 12:02pm
Might just be that they're never available - cause we were told to pretty much not even bother trying for somewhere *in* wellington, and that Petone was our closest bet. (that was when mike was deciding to work or study first, and where) Interesting to know though thanks Nikki -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 12:30pm
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We were living in a HNZ house when I had Maya, it was in Orakei. Some parts of Orakei were/are grotty and revolting but we were on a street where there were a combination of HNZ and private rentals and homeowners.
In all honesty tho, if it's just for you and Lucas, your chances of even getting a look in are pretty slim. The waiting lists in Auck are huge, and like someone else said they put you on a priority scale. In Auck at the moment they are pretty much only assigning houses to those at the highest end of the priority scale. The problem they have is that once people get into a HNZ house they don't give it up and HNZ can't evict them just coz there financial circumstances change which means there are families living in HNZ houses and earning good money, altho they do pay market rent in that case. They are building new HNZ houses but not fast enough to cut the waiting times. I had a friend with 4 kids stuck in a 2brm for nearly 2 years before she could get a transfer to a 3brm coz none were available, and that's in Glen Innes which is grotty. Being a solo mum with only one child, they'll say that you can either stay with your parents or share a flat with someone else which makes you low priority. Sucks huh! We only had one coz Willie got it when he was a solo dad back in the days when HNZ charged market rent so there wasn't as much demand. But as soon as he gave it up not long after we split up he had bugger all chance of getting another one. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 12:48pm
Apparently the people before us in this 2bedroom flat had 4 kids!  the mind boggles...-------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 12:48pm
Without knowing for sure, I'd say that you are right with the lack of availability. I'm sure there is a huuuuuge waiting list... especially in the city. |
Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 12:56pm
We're in that predicament now Alia  It's not fun let me assure you  -------------
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:09pm
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We went and talked with a lovely lady at Housing NZ today, and she told me that it's much better to go into a private rental, although the rent will be higher, my DPB will allow for that & I will be entitled to the Accom Supplement which should cover it depending on rent etc.
I basically already knew that, and it's much safer. She even told me herself she wouldn't feel safe placing Lucas & I in any of the State Houses in Papakura area she deals with as they can be quite 'rough'. I really appreciated her honesty. And yup the waiting lists are HUGE!!!!! So I'm now on the lookout for rental properties. As soon as one takes my eye I will go have a look and apply ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: NeoshasMummy
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:18pm
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Ok so when i was young my dad was in a state house down off Valentine road in papakura it was HIDEOUS with holes smashed in the walls and he lived right next to the Black power so everythime I walked there from school they would harrass me outside it was really horrid so im glad you r sticking to private!!
In saying that *some* people get good places, but the combination of a good house and a good neighbourhood aren't very high. ------------- https://secure.fertilityfriend.com/home/30c4ec/" rel="nofollow">  Mrs Te Kani ❤️ Neosha 26/5/2007 |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:26pm
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I have a fair idea where Valentine Street is in Papakura, definitely don't want to live there... ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: NeoshasMummy
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:34pm
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yep very gross lol and he had to wait 3 months to get that, if he didnt take it he had to go to the bottom of the list! Its making me uneasy thinking about it lol ------------- https://secure.fertilityfriend.com/home/30c4ec/" rel="nofollow"> Mrs Te Kani ❤️ Neosha 26/5/2007 |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:41pm
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Did you check out those links I gave you the other night Steph? Good luck with the search ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3)
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:48pm
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Yup I did thanks Mel, nothing has really taken my eye yet. But I'll let ya know if I find something. I bookmarked those sites for future reference. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 3:52pm
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Quinovic don't charge a letting fee either. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3)
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Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 4:42pm
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Steph, keep on eye on http://www.therentshop.co.nz - The Rent Shop aswell. I have rented a couple of places through them and also used them to find a tenant when we let our house ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 05 June 2008 at 4:45pm
| Where abouts in Bucklands Beach is your Mums HNZ house Bizzy |