CERTIFIED HOUSING SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27201, 19 November 1953, Page 13

CERTIFIED HOUSING SCHEME

MINISTER ADVOCATES EXTENSION

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 18.

Nearly 200 houses were built under the Government’s certified housing scheme in the last year, the Minister of Housing (Mr W. Sullivan) said tonight. The plan had worked smoothly and he would like to see a similar scheme adopted by private lending institutions. Under the Government’s scheme, the builder is able to begin a house without having a purchaser in view. On selling, he can inform the prospective buyer that the purchase can be financed by State Advances Corporation money. Builders can submit plans of houses they intend to build for sale, and the corporation indicates in advance whether the property will be acceptable as a security loan to the eventual purchaser. Emphasising the importance in the housing drive of the small builder, Mr Sullivan said that many were taking advantage of the certified housing scheme either to maintain a continuous programme of work or to fill in periods when they were not building under contract. Group building was not particularly suitable for small builders, but the certified scheme seemed to be “just the thing” for them, he said.