KEY POINTS:
National Party housing spokesman Phil Heatley yesterday questioned why some Housing New Zealand (HNZ) tenants were allowed to own property while thousands of people "languished" on waiting lists.
However, Housing Minister Maryan Street hit back that tenants paying market rents - there are about 6000 - were not asset tested because they were paying competitive rates and many were inherited from when National was in Government.
As of February 29, there were 9875 people on HNZ waiting lists including 2435 applicants already in HNZ houses seeking a transfer.
In Parliament yesterday, Mr Heatley raised concerns over HNZ policy which did not require market rent tenants to tell it if they bought property. "How many of these needy families are locked out of a home by an official written corporation policy where 6000 market rent tenants 'have no legal responsibility to advise the corporation of the purchase of an investment property'?" he asked.
"Does the minister think state house tenants should be able to own rental properties and holiday homes while thousands languish on thewaiting list?"
In a later statement, Ms Street said Mr Heatley would have a point if he was talking about tenants who were not paying market rates.
She said National had allowed market renters into state houses without income-testing them.
- NZPA
