The coalition Government is pleased to see public housing agency Kāinga Ora taking a stronger approach to managing its unruly, threatening, or abusive tenants.
“For far too long, a small number of Kāinga Ora tenants have ridden roughshod over their neighbours because, under Kāinga Ora’s previous Sustaining Tenancies Framework, people knew there were no consequences for their threatening, abusive or damaging behaviour,” Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.
“In March this year Ministers said enough was enough.
“We formally instructed Kāinga Ora to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework, and to strengthen their management of disruptive tenants.
“Three months on, it’s encouraging to see some green shoots of change beginning to emerge.
“For example, in the past three months 14 Kāinga Ora tenancies have been terminated due to disruptive behaviour or persistent rent arrears.
“Kāinga Ora also has an additional 25 applications to end tenancies for these reasons awaiting decisions by the Tenancy Tribunal.
“This is compared to only eight tenancies terminated for disruptive behaviour or rent arrears the whole of 2023.
“We’ve also seen an increase in Section 55A formal warning notices issued to tenants for disruptive behaviour, with 80 issued in the past three months compared to 13 for the same period last year.”
Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says Kāinga Ora has recently published its redeveloped Tenancy Management Framework, which formalises its newly-strengthened approach to managing disruptive tenants.
“The new framework takes a stronger approach to ensuring the right balance is struck between Kāinga Ora’s responsibilities as a landlord, the responsibilities of tenants, and the rights of the surrounding community to the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
“Part of this new framework is a Disruptive Behaviour Policy which allows faster tenancy termination for two types of incidents.
“Firstly, where behaviour in a Kāinga Ora house creates a significant safety issue for others, and secondly where behaviour in a Kāinga Ora house is disruptive and persistent, and warnings from Kāinga Ora staff are ignored.”
Potaka says there are 24,000 families on the social housing wait list and more than 2000 families living in emergency housing motels.
“We will not look the other way when people abuse the privilege of living in social housing.”
Bishop adds: “The message to Kāinga Ora tenants is clear: If your actions are causing your neighbours to live in fear and misery, your time is up.
“Change your behaviour now or face the consequences.”
