Heatley backs Housing NZ's eviction moves

The Salt family has given notice to HNZ to move from this Mt Albert house. Photo / Greg Bowker

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) is being praised by its minister for moves to evict gang members and anti-social tenants from state homes.

The new approach was being put into practice in Lower Hutt suburb Pomare, where five tenants who have terrorised neighbours have been told to get out.

HNZ redesigned the way it handled difficult tenants after the case of Sharon Salt and her family members in Range View Road, Mt Albert, west Auckland.

Her family was accused of terrorising the street, stopping cars, assaulting residents and visitors, and making life there unbearable.

Last week, when the Salt family finally agreed to move out, HNZ said it was redesigning the way it handled such cases and would be trialling its new approach in Pomare.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley said he supported the action to issue 90-day notices against those who breached tenancy agreements.

He also said he was talking to HNZ about options for "sharpening" consequences of terminating a tenancy.

That could include things such as introducing mandatory stand-down periods before tenants can re-apply for state housing, and probation periods for former offenders who resumed state tenancies following a stand-down.

"If such people do not appreciate the opportunity of living in a state home there are plenty of needy families on the waiting list who do."

Mr Heatley said most tenants were good but those who "blatantly disregard" tenancy agreements could lose their home.

HNZ gives accommodation to poorer and vulnerable families.

In Pomare yesterday HNZ issued 90-day tenancy termination notices to five tenants, living on or near Farmer Crescent.

A single mum and her two kids moved out of the area after allegedly being intimidated and burgled by residents whom included gang members.

HNZ chief executive Lesley McTurk told Radio New Zealand the tenants had "severely disturbed the community".

HNZ would help find the families alternative accommodation, but not state houses.

Dr McTurk said two tenancy termination notices had also been issued to people in Auckland.

HNZ was monitoring nearly 30 other tenants in Lower Hutt.

There had been home invasions and other anti-social incidents in Pomare during the past six months, Dr McTurk said.

"We have not been able to take action in those cases because of the difficulty in getting evidence from witnesses who are too intimidated or terrorised by their neighbours to come forward."

HNZ would work with police to tackle the gang activity, she said.

Mr Heatley said the majority of tenancy issues would still be dealt with by the Tenancy Tribunal.

"However, Housing New Zealand believes there are a small number of serious cases where the community deserves a swift and definitive outcome about what will happen to a tenancy, and I agree with them," he said.

"Time is up for those tenants who have cynically gamed the system by terrorising communities knowing their victims would never complain, or if they did complain they would never give evidence."

- NZPA