National vows to move well-off state house tenants

Housing Minister Phil Heatley. Photo / APN

At least 4000 well-off state tenants can expect to be moved out their state houses if National forms the next Government, Housing Minister Phil Heatley suggested yesterday.

"There could be many, many people who end up moving out of state houses," he said.

"In fact we expect that will be the case, and we are going to work with them over a period of time."

He said between 4000 and 5000 tenants paid a full market rent, meaning they could be renting from a private landlord.

"Yet they're in a state house and we don't think that's right," he said on TVNZ's Q and A.

"So what we are saying is that the state houses that the state provides are for those who have genuine need."

He told the Weekend Herald that 4500 people applicants for a state house would be shifted off the waiting list from July this year.

Only applicants with serious housing need, in category A or B, would remain on the waiting list and new tenancies would be reviewed every three years.

Yesterday he went further saying that if National won the election, all current tenants except the elderly and tenants with a disability, would be placed on a three-year reviewable tenancy.

If their circumstances have improved significantly, they would be expected to have moved out within 12 months to make room for someone with a serious housing need.

Historically tenants paying a full market rent have not been asked for personal details.

"We don't know anything about them," he said. "We don't if they've got investment properties. We don't know if they've got significant assets, own businesses."

Mr Heatley said assistance could be given with helping find a place with a private landlord, giving references, and help with moving costs.

A range of factors are involved in determining housing need are income, number of children, mental health issues, beneficiaries in the households.

There are 69,000 state houses.

- Audrey Young