Residents in emergency accommodation declining Marfell housing

People in emergency accommodation have turned down the chance to live on one of New Plymouth’s lower socio-economic suburbs, an MP has claimed.

Although there are currently 38 people on the city’s social housing waiting list, ageing properties in Marfell remained empty, Jonathan Young MP said.

‘‘Demand for Housing NZ properties has been extremely low in Marfell.

‘‘Even people having to utilise temporary emergency housing have turned down opportunities, which is surprising and disappointing.’’

Young said people turning down available houses had led to an excess of empty properties in the suburb.

The MP, who was responding to claims by Labour that work in the suburb was overdue, acknowledged the poor condition of the houses needed to be fixed - and quickly.

‘‘It is unacceptable that taxpayer assets are left to devalue, as well as be allowed to create a negative social effect in the area.’’

Young said the long-term sol- ution to the problems in the suburb was to bring in a private sector partner to work alongside Housing New Zealand to develop the area and make it more attractive to the open market.

‘‘However, I am very concerned who would buy them and for what purposes. We don’t want property investors buying them up only to become absentee landlords.’’

Young said work was ongoing in the background, despite Housing New Zealand announcing in 2014 that it was dropping a multimillion dollar redevelopment plan to build new housing in the area.

Young said it was understandable that Housing New Zealand’s focus had been diverted to Christchurch after the 2011 earthquakes but since that was finished he expected Marfell.

‘‘The Marfell area has never been a closed file for me,’’ he said.

Young said he had pushed other ministers for progress in the area, including showing deputy prime minister Bill English around in 2015.

Housing New Zealand regional manager Darren Toy confirmed more attention on there was little demand for the housing in Marfell.

He said most of the houses in the suburb were built in the 1960s and it was uneconomic to upgrade them in line with modern standards.

‘‘We are looking at options for the future of these properties, which could include selling them,’’ he said.