‘Vague’ plans worry tenant
A Palmerston North Housing New Zealand tenant is worried she’ll lose her home after months of vague communication about a possible redevelopment.
In May, Housing NZ ramped up its building programme to complement the Government’s announcement of 6400 new state homes.
Since then the agency has sent out letters and held meetings with individual tenants about possible redevelopments.
But Nicola Gunn, a tenant for almost 16 years, said the letters and meetings were vague and unhelpful.
Fruitless efforts to get more information had left her stressed, and uncertain if she would be forced to move.
She said her two-bedroom Roslyn home was in good condition, and didn’t need to be redeveloped – but she worried Housing NZ had already decided to do it.
Housing NZ area manager Keith Hilson told Stuff that affected tenants and their neighbours would be informed this week of the agency’s redevelopment plans, which were to make better use of larger sections, and get more low-maintenance, fully insulated homes.
The redevelopment plans could include subdividing existing properties, and replacing older houses with modern homes.
‘‘We’ll continue to keep [tenants] updated as the planning progresses on what it means for them . . . [Where necessary] we’ll always rehouse the affected person, at no cost to them.’’
Gunn said she had only received vague information since May, when she received a letter about a meeting to discuss ‘‘possible changes in your local area and how they may affect you’’.
On the day of the meeting, officials came to her door, handed her a letter notifying her of an upcoming survey of her home for a possible redevelopment, and left without further explanation.
‘‘There was no meeting, they just gave me a letter and took off. ‘‘It felt like an eviction.’’ Gunn said months of struggle to get solid information made it difficult for her to trust Housing NZ.
‘‘I’ve got this terrible gut feeling about it.’’
Gunn said a written response would have eased her worries, and given her something someone else could go over and advise her on.
‘‘I feel fobbed off,’’ she said. Gunn said she understood, as a tenant, it wasn’t her house, but it was her home and it would be hard to leave behind.
‘‘It’s like being uprooted.’’ Her daughter, who was 4 when they moved in, could barely remember living anywhere else.
The house was filled with memories, and the walls decorated with smiling photos of milestones and personal artwork.
She wanted a public meeting on the redevelopment plans – to give affected tenants and the community a chance to have their say before any decisions were made.