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Housing New Zealand is investigating a Christchurch woman for allegedly subletting her state house while owning another home.
The Press reported today that Rana Martin had been living in a home she owns in Hillmorton, Christchurch, despite being a state housing tenant in a property in St Asaph Street, central Christchurch, for more than a decade.
Housing New Zealand's Christchurch regional manager, David Griffiths, last night confirmed to the newspaper that an investigation began last month.
Mr Griffiths said if it was confirmed the St Asaph Street property had been sublet, Housing New Zealand would refer the issue to the Tenancy Tribunal and seek termination of the occupant's lease.
Housing New Zealand did not tolerate any subletting of its properties as there were people desperately in need of houses, he said.
Ms Martin confirmed to the newspaper she was a Housing New Zealand tenant and the owner of a home in Tankerville Road, Hillmorton. She denied living in the home she owned.
She refused to answer questions about when she had lived at the Hillmorton house or whether she felt there was a problem with her retaining the state house while owning her own property.
She would not say who else lived in the state house.
- NZPA
