Housing Upgrade - Effect on Tenants

Work on Your Home

If you live in a home owned by Wellington City Council, you will be affected by the Housing Upgrade Project.

However, as the Council is upgrading all of its social housing over a 20-year period, it may be a while before you see any changes in your house or apartment. For more information about timelines for the Housing Upgrade Project:

Tenant Information

Improvements to your home may include:

• better safety and security
• modernising kitchens and bathrooms
• upgrading insulation (to reduce noise and increase warmth)
• better ventilation to reduce dampness
• enhancing the exterior appearance of the buildings
• better landscaping and communal areas.

While the Upgrade is in Progress

While the flats are being upgraded, most tenants will be moved out of their homes into temporary accommodation.

If you live in a house or apartment that is being upgraded over the next few years, we will be in touch to discuss the work and how it will affect you. Our tenant liaison coordinators will work closely with you to help make moving as easy as possible.

Before You Move

Before you move, you will sign an agreement about where you're moving to while your unit is upgraded. We will visit you beforehand to talk through any questions you might have - like when you can expect to move back into your flat, or what support you need in the meantime.

We will pay for your moving costs, including the cost of getting your electricity, internet, phone or Sky Television services transferred.

We will try to ensure you have the same laundry facilities and have your City Housing parking permits transferred to your new location.

Returning Home

In most cases, where your original house meets your needs, you will be able to return once improvement work has been completed. However, if the size of your house is changing, or your needs have changed, we will work with you to find another home within our housing complexes.

A major part of the upgrade work will involve joining some of our bedsits together to make one-, two- or three-bedroom units. Some bedsit tenants may choose to move into a one-bedroom unit or an alternative bedsit either in another part of their complex, or in another location.

Your Say on Improvements

No one knows better than you what's needed to make your home better.

Your ideas will help the architects decide what design improvements will be made to the units and shared spaces, such as community rooms, entrance areas and outdoor areas.

There will be lots of opportunities to get involved as the project progresses. There will be meetings, workshops, activities and open days. We also welcome your ideas on how we can improve this process.

Suzanne Chittenden
Tenancy & Relocations Team Leader

Phone:	(04) 499 4444
Email:	HUPinfo

Current Tenancy Agreements

When you move out of your unit / house, your Tenancy Agreement will also end. A new Tenancy Agreement will have to be signed to cover temporary accommodation. Once you move back into permanent accommodation, a new Tenancy Agreement will be drawn up.

The standard City Housing Tenancy Agreements may differ in format and conditions from older Tenancy Agreements, and will comply with the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

You can ask the Department of Building and Housing Tenancy Services (phone 0800 836 262) for advice on your rights and responsibilities regarding tenancy agreements and actions of your landlord.

Bonds

Your bond will be transferred each time you move, regardless of any debt you might have.

Rents

If you are housed in temporary accommodation during relocation, your rent will remain the same. When you move to permanent accommodation, you will be required to pay the set rent of that property.

Frozen Rents

The Council has no plans to change this policy at this stage. Tenants who are 80 years old or over and who have their rents frozen will continue to have this condition included in any new City Housing Tenancy Agreement.

More Information

We will keep you updated on the upgrade project. You will also receive a regular newsletter. We welcome any questions, ideas or comments.

Suzanne Chittenden
Tenancy & Relocations Team Leader

Phone:	(04) 499 4444
Email:	HUPinfo

Your Tenancy Manager can answer most questions, or put you in touch with a member of the Upgrade Project team if more detailed information is required. You can contact your Tenancy Manager on (04) 499 4444.

The Wellington Association of Tenants (WHAT) organisation has representatives at most of the larger complexes. They are also able to provide you with information on the project. The contact phone number for the WHAT office is (04) 384 1419.

Department Details:
City Housing