Govt sets up state housing review

[Taupo Tiger]

Govt sets up state housing review

NZPA | Wednesday February 17 2010 - 07:58am
The Government has announced a review of state housing aimed at finding out the most efficient fair way to provide it.
Housing Minister Phil Heatley says many houses are in bad shape while others are in the wrong places to meet demand.
"A review of this nature is long overdue," he said today.
"The Government has more than $14 billion invested in social housing...the group will look at how this significant asset can be better utilised."
The seven-member Housing Shareholders' Advisory Group is headed by company director and global business consultancy senior partner Alan Jackson.
Mr Heatley said there was huge growth in demand for one- and two-bedroom houses for older people, and four or more bedroom houses for large families.
"Yet we have relatively few houses to meet that demand -- instead we have a surplus of three bedroom houses across the country that suit neither demographic," he said.
"The advisory group will make recommendations on the best and fairest way of providing state housing services to those most in need, in the highest priority areas, for as long as they need it."
The other members of the advisory group are investment banker Andrew Body, property developer Martin Udale, Salvation Army director Campbell Roberts, Auckland City Mission head Diane Robertson, New Zealand Housing Foundation executive director Brian Donnelly and Maori development consultant Paul White.
The group will start work immediately and report by April 30 this year.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/govt-se...-review-118669

[Viking]

I didn't see any PM's on there and I suggest some of them know more about this than most of those who have been given our money to tell us the obvious.

[Perry]

"The Government has more than $14 billion invested in social housing.

Interesting to compare the woodenhead's
statement with the HCNZ's counsel's view,
here.

I didn't see any PM's on there and I suggest some of them know more about this than most of those who have been given our money to tell us the obvious.

Aww, c'mon - get real! A global business consultant
and an investment banker will surely have their
finger on the pulse of NZ's 'social housing,' right?

[Viking]

Failing State Housing.

Trouble ahead in housing
By SHANE COWLISHAW – The Press
Last updated 05:00 06/08/2010
The future of state housing in New Zealand looks grim unless there are changes, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says.


“Oh so true, but unfortunately although this has been apparent for 30 years no one so far, including Mr Heatley has had the guts to do what’s right. Mr Clarkson when MP for Tauranga prepared a blueprint for solving this problem but like Williamson (and the leaky building issue), Heately has become moribund by his own fear and failed to listen to a person with idea’s. The steps to fixing this are not huge, are not hard but will require some fortitude not to listen to the whiners and moaners. Just to get results.”


Speaking at a Christchurch Housing Forum event yesterday, Heatley told social workers, property investors and real estate agents that most of the state-housing stock was “disintegrating”.
He said the state-housing model would not meet future demand.
“When I raise my eyes and look to the future of social housing in New Zealand, I’m very concerned,” he said.



http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...ead-in-housing

[Son of G]

The report is out.

From:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/residentia...ectid=10664062

File photo / Glenn Jeffrey



Increased participation by non government organisations including iwi and the private sector is needed to address a growing shortage of affordable housing, an independent report has found.
The Housing Shareholders Advisory Group, set up in February by Minister of Finance Bill English and Housing Minister Phil Heatley issued its report this morning.
The group warned "New Zealand faces a growing shortage of affordable homes which in turn is causing problems in social and state housing".
While New Zealand was lucky in that its $15 billion social housing system - which includes state housing and housing subsidies - was better positioned than that in other countries, "it is under increasing pressure and the current system does not have the flexibility to deal with this".
The group said there was no "magic bullet" to deal with the issue but that a key component missing in this country was "a substantial level of third party provision of social housing".
"We have a model of state housing that hasn't changed greatly from the 1940s so there aren't the options available to meet the variety of needs now and to help people move from state housing to home ownership".


The group, which made 19 recommendations in its report, found significant issues around the provision of dwellings to match tenants' needs, a lack of clarity about the effectiveness and efficiency of the current model, and constraints on Crown expenditure.
It recommended that Housing NZ focus on the "high needs" sector while moving to become an "orchestrator" of third party participation over the next five years.
Housing Minister Phil Heatley said today he welcomed the group's call to diversify the funding of social housing by increasing community sector involvement.
"I note the advisory group's concern that many countries are grappling with similar issues but New Zealand has yet to adopt some of the strategies observed offshore to address them," he said.
The Government had about $15 billion invested in social housing and was committed to retaining state housing, he said.
"However, a significant number of houses are in a poor state of repair, are of the wrong size, and are in the wrong places to meet demand.
"We want to ensure this significant asset is utilised to the best effect. We also want the system to be fairer and to work better for those families most in need."
Finance Minister Bill English said the report needed further consideration, because the group had decided to widen its brief to include housing affordability and the relationship between social housing and the wider benefit system.
The Government has asked the group to discuss its findings and recommendations with key stakeholders in the wider sector before it would consider any decisions on the report.
"We want to ensure we carefully consider the report and consult with the sector before considering any changes to government policy," Mr English said.
The Government would only consider making changes to the current system if those changes would make the system work better and deliver results for those most in need.
The group would spend the next six weeks engaging with the sector and would report back later this year.
Over the next five years, the group envisaged:
* joint ventures or other arrangements with third parties such as social agencies, housing associations and iwi for the supply of "a substantial portion of new social housing demand"
* appropriate outsourcing of risk, construction and project management for smaller housing programmes
* the establishment of a stand-alone organisation for "major urban renewal schemes" in conjunction with local or regional bodies, community groups and appropriate third, or private sector partners".
The seven member group is chaired by Alan Jackson formerly of management consultancy firm Boston Consulting Group who is a director of Fletcher Building. Other members include Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army, Diane Robertson of the Auckland City Mission, iwi representative Paul White and investment banker Andrew Body.
- With NZPA
By Adam Bennett

[essence]

Call for sweeping state housing changes

06/08/2010

A housing taskforce says the current state housing model has "served its time" and urged the Government to make sweeping changes.

The task force was established by Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

Included in its recommendations are focusing the provision of state housing on those with "high needs", greater involvement of third party housing providers - such as not for profit organisations - and a wider focus on affordable housing in general.

The report estimates that the number of people in New Zealand with no shelter at all is likely to be small - fewer than 300 people - while the number of people in temporary accommodation that is unsuited for long term habitation might range from 8000 to 20000. This included a number of people, mainly Maori, living in substandard housing in rural areas.

Housing New Zealand provides about 67,700 households with dwellings, 89 per cent of which paid income related rents.

A further 480,000 households were in rental accommodation provided by the private sector, more than half of them receiving the Government's accommodation supplement.

The report notes that there has been a policy "not to terminate the leases of tenants in good standing", meaning state housing has provided secure tenure over the years.

It says the "house for life" expectation meant 22,000, or 32 per cent of Housing New Zealand tenants, had been in the same state houses for at least 10 years.

But it has also placed restrictions on Housing New Zealand Corporation's ability to provide housing to the neediest tenants, by making it difficult to resolve the problem of tenants remaining in properties which become too big for them.

It also meant that those who were paying market rent, and therefore capable or renting in the private sector, remained in state houses while others with acute need could not get a house.

Heatley said a significant number of houses were in a poor state of repair, were of the wrong size, and in the wrong places to meet demand.

"We want to ensure this significant asset is utilised to the best effect. We also want the system to be fairer and to work better for those families most in need," Heatley said.

Finance Minister Bill English said the Government would get feedback on the report before making any decisions.

"There are a number of challenges to be addressed and there is no quick fix," English said.

There would only be changes if they made the system work better and deliver the right results for people most in need.

Emphasis is mine.

[Perry]

Yyyaaawwwnnn . . . .

Increased participation by non government organisations including iwi and the private sector is needed to address a growing shortage of affordable housing, an independent report has found.

The Housing Shareholders Advisory Group, set up in February by Minister of Finance Bill English and Housing Minister Phil Heatley issued its report this morning . . .

The seven member group is chaired by Alan Jackson formerly of management consultancy firm Boston Consulting Group who is a director of Fletcher Building. Other members include Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army, Diane Robertson of the Auckland City Mission, iwi representative Paul White and investment banker Andrew Body.

And private accommodation providers - furnishing a roof-
over-head to 480,000 households were represented
by who, exactly?
.

[AMR]

Is it just me, or has this release coincided with the privacy commission review of credit checks?

[Perry]

Do tell us more about what you refer to.
.

[Keys]

Do tell us more about what you refer to.
.

http://www.propertytalk.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=26609

[Son of G]

While it is not in our interest there is a simple solution that will make housing more affordable.

That is ensure that more people leave NZ than arrive by setting the number of medium & long term visa approvals to match migration figures.

Less people means more houses than households and drives rents down as landlords try to compete for customers.

[Bob Kane]

A further 480,000 households were in rental accommodation provided by the private sector, more than half of them receiving the Government's accommodation supplement.

Earlier this year the media, Hickey, Weldon and others attacked landlords and rejoiced that the budget was going to finally deal with landlords and wipe them all out.
If landlords stop providing accommodation then who will?
It will be interesting to see who makes the first call to encourage landlords to continue in business.
My pick is the next budget will contain an 'encouragement' for landlords to house deserving families.

[Perry]

Did he say "raise" or "close" his eyes?
(Like when getting the credit card out)
.

[Keithw]

These people really dont have a clue do they ?

"Speaking after the event, Human Rights Commission adviser Karolin Potter said once housing costs rose above 30 per cent of a person's income, they became unsustainable.
The Government should introduce a compliance code for landlords, similar to a warrant of fitness for vehicles, to better regulate the industry, she said. "

derrrrrrrr - & does she really think that a compliance code is somehow going to bring down rent costs and reduce demand on Govt housing ???

She was in a room full of property investors, real estate agents & social workers- obviously couldn't bring herself to talk to the people involved in the industry but would rather talk to the do gooding social workers that seem to think landlords owe their (social workers)clients cheap housing while the Govt forces their costs up !

[muppet]

State houses for 'most needy'

State houses for 'most needy'

By Adam Bennett
5:30 AM Monday Aug 9, 2010
Photo / Paul Estcourt


The Government will increasingly look to charity to fund low-cost housing as it moves towards restricting state housing to families with the highest needs, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.
The independent Housing Shareholders Advisory Group yesterday released a report recommending increased participation by non-government organisations, including iwi and the private sector, to combat a growing shortage of affordable housing.
The report said Housing NZ was under increasing financial strain
Crown spending on social housing was projected to keep rising, largely due to the increasing pressure of maintaining Housing NZ's existing houses and the low rental returns.
Meanwhile, rising house prices had seen home affordability decline, increasing demand for social and state housing.
While the advisory group said there was no "magic bullet" to deal with the issues, a key component missing in this country was "a substantial level of third-party provision of social housing". It recommended that Housing NZ focus on the "high needs" sector while moving to become an "orchestrator" of third-party participation over the next five years.
Responding to the report, Mr Heatley said that while the "capital-constrained" Government remained committed to state housing for high-needs households, "we need community housing organisations to step up to the plate and we need a lot of philanthropic giving. Community housing organisations have contacts in the philanthropic sector that we don't have."
Labour's housing spokeswoman, Moana Mackey, said Mr Heatley was being "completely unrealistic".
"Where do they think these philanthropic organisations with hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in social housing are, and why don't they do it now?" she asked.
While it was a good idea to foster a bigger community housing sector, "it has to be as well as - rather than instead of - the Government".
Fletcher Building director Alan Jackson, the former management consultant who chaired the group, said one of the potential avenues for growing the involvement of community housing groups was to transfer some of the existing state house stock to them.
Community groups could then "leverage" or borrow against those homes to fund the development of yet more social housing.
David McCartney of Community Housing Aotearoa said that model had worked well overseas. "I'm sure they'll look at that here."
Housing New Zealand:
* Currently provides 67,700 dwellings.
* Owns about $14 billion worth of the country's $15 billion stock of social housing.
* Crown spent $2 billion on social housing in 2008-09.
* That is forecast to rise to $3.6 billion a year by 2016.
* That is "unsustainable", says the Housing Shareholders Advisory Group.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10664662