12. PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
How many applicants are currently on the Housing New Zealand Corporation waiting list?
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister of Housing) Link to this
Housing New Zealand Corporation advises me that as at 29 February 2008 the number of applicants on the waiting list was 9,875. This figure includes 2,435 applicants already living in Housing New Zealand houses who are seeking a transfer.
How many of these thousands of needy families are locked out of a home by an official, written corporation policy where 6,000 market-rent tenants “have no legal responsibility to advise the corporation of the purchase of an investment property”?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I would be keen to hear, if that member has any details of cases that he would like to furnish me with, how that is being applied, and to whose disadvantage.
Lynne PillayHon MARYAN STREET Link to this
We have a targeted acquisitions programme. We are making better use of the State houses that we do have. We are providing housing through the Housing Innovation Fund. In fact, there are many initiatives—too numerous to mention here—but it does have to be said that it takes a lot longer to build and acquire Housing New Zealand Corporation properties than it does to sell them.
Why is it that if any of the 6,000 State house tenants paying a market rent buys an investment property or a holiday home, that tenant has no legal responsibility to Housing New Zealand Corporation; or does the Minister think that State house tenants should be able to own rental properties and holiday homes while thousands languish on the waiting list?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I am absolutely clear that the priority for this Government and Housing New Zealand Corporation is to house the most vulnerable in our society. There is no difference to that policy from this Government. If there are occasions that can be called fraud that are to do with subletting—where there are instances of people abusing the privilege that a Housing New Zealand Corporation house provides them—then I would like to know about that so the appropriate steps can be taken.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question was about the policy that tenants can have investment properties. It was nothing about fraud. This is actually legal practice, according to the Minister. Could I please have an answer about the legal practice of people being able to have investment properties when they are State house tenants?
Madam SPEAKERCan the Minister confirm that this policy, which states: “There is no requirement for the tenants who are paying market rent to declare investments such as interest in properties.”, means that up to 6,000 State house tenants can quite legally be landlords themselves under the Labour Government rules; if not, what does this policy mean?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I draw to the attention of this House the fact that some 94 or 95 percent of State house tenants are on income-related rentals. The remaining few percent, who are on market rentals, have been tenants for a very long time. They have probably been Housing New Zealand tenants since long before this Government came into power.
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
I can talk about the policy of this Government, which is to house the most vulnerable. If the policy to which the member refers exists within the corporation, then I will do my best to address that when I have the appropriate information.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. You asked the Minister to address the question. Should I repeat the question so that the Minister can address it?
I seek leave to table the reply to written question 10585, which includes “6,000 tenants pay market rent”.
I seek leave to table the financial review containing “Market rent tenants have no legal responsibility to advise of an investment property.”
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. What are we to make of a member of Parliament rising to his feet and seeking to table a page of Hansard? In respect of the question that member has just asked, the first publication was to do with a written question, which becomes part of the record. The member is grossly wasting Parliament’s time.