HNZ struggles to find builders to fix eyesore
Unit empty for 7 months despite house shortage
Afire damaged stateowned home has been empty for seven months after Housing NZ struggled to find anyone interested in fixing it.
The Housing New Zealand unit on Durham Ave, Tamatea, was torched on Christmas Day, and while HNZ still mows the lawns, the house has not been repaired.
However, work is scheduled to start soon.
Durham Ave resident John Wuts said the unit sitting empty for so long was criminal, especially given the growing need for social housing in Hawke’s Bay.
“A family could be in here — you know, a mum with kids,” Wuts said.
He described the unit as an eyesore and said it was especially unfair to the people in neighbouring Housing New Zealand units, some of which were smoke-damaged during the initial fire.
“Why should those people . . . have to put up with living like that?” Wuts said.
Normally Housing New Zealand did a great job looking after the units, he said.
Andrew Cairns, area manager for Housing New Zealand, had good news for Wuts — work on the unit was due to start in a month.
“A contract to reinstate the house has now been signed, building consent has been issued and initial work will start next month,” Cairns said.
“Earlier this year we put the work out to tender but this did not attract initial interest.
“We hope the new home will be ready by the end of the year for a new family,” Cairns said, adding that Housing New Zealand was grateful no one was hurt in the fire.
According to the Ministry of Social Development website, in March 2018 there were 238 people on the Napier waiting list for social housing — an increase of more than 100 compared with March 2017.
A family could be in here — you know, a mum with kids.
Resident John Wuts