Renting to Refugees

[investernewbie]

Hi All,

I have a resettlement officer applied for our property for a family of four refugees: Mother and three adults children. NZ Government will be paying the rent and bond directly.

Has anyone had any experience letting out their property to Refugees?

Thanks

[Don't believe the Hype]

I haven't posted on here for 18 months or more but thought it worth logging in to provide feedback on this question...

Never. Never. Never - not in a million years. We did this circa 2018 were told by all sorts of agencies they had systems and processes in place to ensure these guys had all the help they needed to settle in to the community. We went from fully renovated property to destroyed in about 6 wks. Those same agencies who signed all sorts of guarantees/documents saying they'd help these guys etc balied leaving my insurance company with the bill.

Let HNZ house these guys and if they cause damage the burden is shared across all NZ tax payers not one private owner.

[Don't believe the Hype]

Here is a link to the post i wrote about it years ago

https://www.propertytalk.com/forum/f...ment-nz/44128-

[Kaye]

TBH I tend to agree with Don't Believe the Hype there's a couple of KA Properties around the road from me 1 has Somali's in it no problems integrated well with neighbours. Next door to them is an Afghani Family 11 people in a 4 bedroomed home, OK 4 are children but that leaves a heap of Adults. Paid full Market Price then Property was completely gutted before they moved in high end Property previous owners were retired so very little if any wear and tear...so why gut it? My observation walking past it daily is the Drapes are never ever open don't think the windows have been open since they moved in. Upset their neighbours all the way down the street by putting dirty disposable nappies in their rubbish bins... when called out on this refused to speak English KA were called and asked to speak to their tenant neighbours were told it was up to them to resolve... I'll leave you to make your own decision...

[investernewbie]

Thank you for your experience. I currently have an applicant, a family of four somali refugees. Red cross has been insisting that they will teach them to look after the house and teach them the basics. It all sound really good over the phone. But I am still unsure if it worth the risk of letting to them. Has anyone has any experience letting to Somali family? Will that depends on where they came from? Or more individual basis?

[donna]

^^ agree, that’s why there is social housing.

Plus there is a shortage of rentals and you’re a private landlord taking all the risk - more so now with the eviction rule changes.

Therefore choose the best tenants you can get in my humble opinion.

Cheers
Donna

[McDuck]

yup,

it would be quite a risk to have people of such a different culture looking after a New Zealand type house.

I checked out Somali houses, no grass, lots of painted concrete walls, almost military grade toughness.

There are about 20 universities there, but the education system has been destroyed by war.

My guess is that it would be a real challenge to retrain people from such a hard environment.

Extremely hopeful to expect them take care of out very delicate buildings.

Let alone adapt to the social expectations .



You might even be offended by the male/female dynamic in that culture.

[donna]

The second photo reminds me of the buildings in the Canary Islands where it’s a dry heat, not cold and damp like here.

[Keys]

You might even be offended by the male/female dynamic in that culture.

Conservatives are not allowed to be offended.

[TC3]

Refugees have a volunteer support team of about six people who ensure the family is well settled into their community. This is when they leave the Mangere Resettlement Centre. If you get an inquiry you shd ask to meet the team leader and discuss the situation. It’s disturbing to hear families are being settled with no such support

[Perry]

It may be a matter of ineffective, rather than absence of support.

[donna]

I doubt Refugees are being looked after appropriately anywhere.....

Refugees, including those fleeing from war-torn countries, are served with an eviction notice from the Home Office as soon as they earn the legal right to stay in the UK.

They are then given 28 days to leave their asylum accommodation and find secure housing or face sleeping on the streets.

cheers,

Donna

[TC3]

Refugees have full wraparound support in NZ. There’s no evictions

[frances56]

They are supported by volunteers that help them negotiate their new life. I know some families who treat their homes with respect. Just like any culture, nz or otherwise, you get all sorts, good and bad.

[donna]

^^ makes you wonder how other countries manage huge influxes successfully from accommodation to living skills to getting that all important job?

I guess a lot of it is the support provided from other refugees who can empathise with the challenges and also be there when they need friends.