KEY POINTS:
Fewer than 10 per cent of the country's 68,000 state housing tenants owe more than $2 million for damage caused to their homes.
Of those who had run up debts, the bulk was not deliberate damage, Housing New Zealand chief operating officer Stephen McArthur told The Press.
"Where damage does occur, a considerable proportion is not a result of wilful damage but a consequence of accidents that could occur in any home," he said.
"These range from kids putting a ball through a window to fires caused by electric blankets that are left on."
The total damage bill for 2007-08 was $7.25m, up from $7.21m the previous year. The average debt was about $290.
Mr McArthur said in June more than 80 per cent of the tenants who owed Housing New Zealand for damage had repayment arrangements in place.
"Where Housing New Zealand identifies clear evidence of a pattern of damage to state homes, we will work with tenants to help them change behaviour or resolve issues that may be making it difficult to look after their home," he said.
"These might be issues associated with overcrowding or youths."
- NZPA
