Overview
There are approximately 70 Community Housing Providers (CHPs) in New Zealand, providing 16,000 homes which house over 35,000 residents. A new government agency, Kāinga Ora, was established in 2019, replacing what was previously known as Housing New Zealand.

Most CHPs charge social housing rents at 25% of the tenant’s household income, and the government will provide a ‘top up’ a rental subsidy to bring the total household rent to an affordable housing rent which is typically around 30 to 35% of the tenant’s income to market rent.

Issues in the Sector

• Political landscape: The current Labour Government is focused on social housing through public provision.
• Limited investment in CHP sector: The Government provides little funding to CHPs and their is not NZ equivalent of NHFIC to provide cheaper financing costs.
• Inconsistent regulation: Social housing is regulated differently than public housing, which can cause issues with transferred housing stock.
• Stock is in poor condition: Much of the social housing stock is ageing and is in poor condition.

Recommendations

• Aggregated borrowing: The introduction of a NHFIC like entity would allow for expanded financing to NZ CHPs.
• Advocacy from the peak: Continued engagement with the peak NZ CHP body, Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA), to drive best practice on both sides of the Tasman.
• Changing party politics: Emphasise the importance of CHPs in helping to increase social housing provision and avoid becoming a political football.
• Expanded role of regulator: Expand the role of the housing regulator to cover all social housing, both community and public housing.

Read the report