Damage doubles in HNZ homes

[muppet]

Damage doubles in HNZ homes
Thursday, 11 May 2006, 4:24 pm
Press Release: New Zealand National Party
Phil Heatley MP
National Party Housing Spokesman
11 May 2006

Damage doubles in HNZ homes

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says the damage being done to state homes by tenants and their guests has ballooned.

HNZ figures show the amount of tenant and third party (guest) damage has risen by 75% to more than $14 million in the past year, with three quarters of the year gone.

?The damage being done to taxpayer-owned and funded properties by tenants and their guests is on track to double this year.

?It is the taxpayer who will pick up the tab for this, yet the Minister says he is satisfied with the way the housing stock?s being managed.

?In Parliament today the Minister claimed I was being misleading with the figures. He is wrong, they are his damage figures and he is the one misleading New Zealanders.

?The number of HNZ properties have increased by 2% in the past year, yet the amount of damage being done by tenants and their guests has doubled.?

Mr Heatley is calling on the Minister to clarify the situation, especially in light of Maryan Street?s Residential Tenancies (Damage Insurance) Amendment Bill, which will force private landlords to pay for insurance to cover the damages done by tenants or their guests.

?Can the Minister tell us if the increased premiums being driven by this Labour member?s bill will apply to government-owned homes? I suspect the answer is no - because HNZ does not insure for damage to its properties.

?If that is correct, why is the Government forcing new costs upon the private sector when it won?t face the same increased costs itself. They?ll just plunder the taxpayer purse instead.

?Taxpaying tenants renting in the private sector will be paying twice. Not only will they be paying higher rents once the costs are passed on, they?ll also be paying for the damage and vandalism done by state house tenants to their homes,? says Mr Heatley.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00271.htm

[McDuck]

"The poor are dragging this country down"
Denny Crane.

[Dean@Massiveaction]

They write the article like they are surprised. They pack low socio economic families in like sardines into $#$$^#^$# housing and wonder why they damage it?? It never occurs to them to try and teach the same people how to be good parents, how to build self esteem into themselves and their kids

[muppet]

Weeeelll it is a Government Department isn't it.

[spurner]

going OT...

HNZ don't insure their properties, that's interesting.

I suppose when you have critical mass of x,000 houses your actual damages will beat the insurance premiums anyway...

OT I know but I was looking at an insurance premium recently. After ACC, EQC, Fire Levy and GST, the insurance company actually receives bugger all of the insurance premiums we pay, most of it goes straight to the govt...

[cantthinkofanickname]

Having worked for hnz on the maintance program for a number of years that figure looks like it was fudged as a lot of damage is repaired by contractors in the course of the contract so would not show up as damage. ie broken glass would be repaired under the painting contract therefore would not show up on the damage register


graham

[4thecat]

I am always amazed on how properties can get trashed by people. I have been living in my own places for over 25 years ,and yet have to put a whole into a door or a wall ! Funny isn’t it , as soon as you have to pay for something with your own money, you seem to look after it a bit more.

A simple solution to this problem :
Nice state houses, and " not so nice state houses "
I think everybody should have a nice state house, in case they ever need one. And for a short term of time ,and not as a lifestyle choice as it themes to be the case at the moment.

Now ,,,,,,,,,,if you trash the place, or don’t take good care of it, you should get kicked out of it , no if, no butt’s and no excuses .
And get a free transfer into a not so "nice state house, build out of concrete, concrete benches, tables ,and chairs included, don’t worry about carpet or internal doors ether ( as they don’t know how to handle them anyway.). After they vacant them, all you need, is a shovel and a water blaster, and it is ready for the next lot .

Now, I thinks would complain a bit to say the least ! I would be inclined to turn around and tell them , well if you don’t like it, go and get your own place , and don’t forget to pay for it too.

Don’t get me wrong here, there is a need for State housing ( in small doses ! ) .

[artemis]

They pack low socio economic families in like sardines into $#$$^#^$# housing and wonder why they damage it??

I think it unlikely that HNZ pack people into a house. I worked for them (long time ago mind you) and they were very strict about matching the size of the property to the number of people to be housed. According to the application that is. It is more likely that friends and rellies appeared later. Or that the original family grew and hasn't been relocated (for whatever reason, maybe they don't want to move, or they are on the transfer waiting list).

[cantthinkofanickname]

Some stats for your infromation HNZ repaint every 7 /8 years inside and out or should that be rebuild in some cases
The newer kitchens, ( melteca) have an average life span of 4 yes 4 years in HNZ properties
Strange how old wood kitchens last 50 years .
my friend is now supplying them with alloy carcass system that seems to be stronger but cost twice as much
im not saying all HNZ tennants are rough, they just not treated right by helen