To all Property Managers and owners of rentals

Donna from Otaki District

Just because a Property Manager/owners of a rental can increase the rent once a year doesn't mean they have to. Contrary to their belief that WINZ will cover the increase, this is a false belief. If a pensioner/renter lives in Otaki they only get $80 a week maximum on the Accommodation Support. If need be WINZ may add a top-up on the Temporary Assistance Support. BUT .. they do not cover all the rent. In Waikanae the renter/pensioner gets $100 on Accommodation and a small top-up on Temporary Assistance if they qualify. It is NOT a given. For most pensioners all of their Super goes on the rent and when this happens that is when they can get the Accommodation Supplement and maybe the Temporary Supplement. Which by the way is not Temporary unless by some miracle the rent is reduced. I will not hold my breath waiting to hear social housing or more affordable properties are available. Kainga Ora has bought a few parcels of land but building will not happen for at least three years on some sections and why they are holding off on other parcels of other land just frustrates me.