Alliance releases housing policy

The Alliance would increase the number of state houses by 2100 a year for the next six years so that families needing them could move in, party leader Laila Harre said today.

Announcing the Alliance's housing policy, she said there was a shortage throughout the country that had to be addressed.

"Because the state only provides less than a quarter of New Zealand's rental stock, many low-income families renting in the private sector have no benefited from income-related rents.

"There are currently 11,000 households waiting for a state house. Through a combination of new builds and leases from private owners, the Alliance will increase the number of states houses by 2100 per year over the next six years to make sure those families are housed sooner rather than later," she said.

The Alliance also wanted affordable accommodation for pensioners and would offer low interest loans to councils and other agencies to provide that.

There would also be low interest, low deposit housing schemes for first home buyers and a rent-to-buy scheme in rural areas.

- NZPA

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