Council caps pensioner rent
6 December 2017
Waipa District Council has capped rents for its pensioner housing units.
The Council owns 129 one and two-bedroom pensioner housing units across eight complexes in Cambridge, Kihikihi and Te Awamutu.
The 138 tenants pay market rents for the units; rents are not subsidised by ratepayers. The amount of rent paid is dependent on the complex and size of the unit.
Following recent consultation with tenants, Council has confirmed that future pensioner housing rents, after taking into account the government accommodation supplement, will be no greater than 30 per cent of the gross amount of National Superannuation or market rent - whichever is the lesser of the two. More than 88 per cent of tenants supported this change.
The policy aims to lock in formal protections so tenants can enjoy their units with confidence in the affordability of future rents. The change was supported by the vast majority of tenants and those affected by the change have already been notified.
The Council has also changed its policy to ensure that, in future, Waipa's pensioner housing units will only be available to those aged 65 and over. A small number of existing tenants are currently aged under 65. They will be able to stay on in their units but no new applications from those aged under 65 will be considered. More than 91 per cent of tenants backed this change.
Media enquiries, contact Natalie Palmer 027 807 3174