Accessible Properties takes over state homes

Accessible Properties Chair Paul Adams. Photo/Andrew Warner

From tonight Accessible Properties will take over the ownership and management of more than 1100 homes from Housing New Zealand in the Tauranga area.

Accessible Properties, a subsidiary of IHC, is one of New Zealand's largest non-government housing providers with a long history of providing good quality housing that prioritises people with disabilities, older people and those on low incomes.

The organisation was chosen by the Government as the preferred community housing provider for the Housing New Zealand houses in Tauranga in August 2016.

The transfer of ownership of the properties takes place tomorrow Saturday 1 April, 2017.

Accessible Properties' chief executive Greg Orchard said the Registered Community Housing Provider was committed to tenants and was determined to provide a great service.

"We are looking forward to meeting our tenants, to let them know more about us and most importantly to seek their views on what we can improve upon before we formalise any plans of our own. I will say that we are keen to make some changes," he said.

"The properties have been assessed as being at a very good standard - we will maintain this and seek to make improvements. We are also committed to introducing some new safety features to homes.

"In addition to improvements and maintenance we also want to grow the number of homes we provide in Tauranga and to make sure they are the right size to meet the needs of current and future tenants. We plan to provide at least another 150 homes in the city."

Accessible Properties Tauranga general manager Andrew Wilson said their tenancy managers would act as community connectors for those who would like to access more social or community support services or iwi links.

"We have a Memorandum of Understanding with Tauranga Moana Iwi and have always worked with a range of agencies to help our tenants get any wider support that they need."

Accessible Properties would ensure a smooth transfer for tenants, making sure each person has all the information they need.

Tenants could expect a Welcome pack from Accessible Properties outlining everything they need to know about the transfer to arrive in their letterboxes from next week.

About Accessible Properties

Accessible Properties is a registered community housing provider, is a charitable organisation and manages one of New Zealand's largest non-government social housing portfolio. It currently manages more than 1600 homes throughout the country.

From April 1 the number will increase to more than 2700. It has been the most successful applicant for government Social Housing Fund grants, which has enabled a programme of new-build construction of nearly 200 social housing units for affordable rental by people with social support needs.

Accessible Properties is a subsidiary of IHC New Zealand and has been in social housing for more than 60 years.