New Applicants - Eligibility

Rintoul Street Flats, Berhampore

Eligibility for Council Housing is based on a number of criteria or 'gates'.

These gates work to ensure housing assistance goes to those with genuine need.

For legal reasons, the Council only considers applications where the primary applicant at least 18 years old and a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand, or a new arrival who has submitted an application for permanent residence or refugee status.

To be eligible, you must meet all the following requirements:

• Gate 1 - people with low income and assets
• Gate 2 - people currently without adequate housing
• Gate 3 - people who have been identified as a priority group for housing assistance

If you have a low income and a genuine housing need but are not in a priority group, you may still be eligible for housing assistance. Please see 'stream 3' below.

Types of Assistance

Once you are declared eligible, City Housing offers three types or 'streams' of assistance.

• Stream 1, long term For people in need whose circumstances are unlikely to change over a long period of time
• Stream 2, medium term A stepping stone approach to supporting people until they are able to participate in the private rental market
• Stream 3, limited term If you meet the criteria for income and housing need but are not a member of a priority group, City Housing may offer you this temporary housing solution when housing units are available and there are no priority applicants waiting

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Priority Groups

A number of groups have been identified as a priority for housing assistance. In defining priority groups, the Council has consulted the community at large and considered other housing options available through specialist providers.

Priority is based on the results of a needs assessment and how well the private rental market serves the applicants. We cannot guarantee that we can house all applicants and priority is always given to those assessed as most in need.

Maximum Income

To be eligible for City Housing, your income must not exceed the following after tax and before the accommodation supplement:

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The Council requires you to declare your income and asset details once a year to review rent entitlements and to make sure you are still eligible for this type of housing.

The assessment is made to check if your circumstances have changed and rents are adjusted accordingly. We will also ask for proof of eligibility.

This system makes sure that housing remains available to those most in need.

If your income is less than 20% above the allocated threshold, your rent subsidy is adjusted from 30% to 10% of the full market rent until the next review in 12 months.

If your income is more than 21% above the allocated threshold, your rent subsidy is removed and you must pay 100% of the full market rent. Eligibility for city housing is reviewed 12 months from the date of increase.

At any time there may be a number of reasons the property you are living in no longer meets your needs. In that case, we will start a process of working with you to transfer you to a more suitable property. If we cannot meet your needs, you will need to find other accommodation.

Assets

The following assets also affect rent:

Related Links

• City Housing Application Form (97Kb PDF)
• Housing Policy

Department Details:
City Housing