Few single pensioner flats

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38183, 24 March 1973, Page 16

Few single pensioner flats

Single units for pensioners are at a premium, and in the case of the Christchurch City Council the present waiting time is two years and four months, a correspondent to “The Press” has been told. The correspondent, “Concerned,” had asked: I “Am I correct in as[suming that within the city • and suburbs pensioner hous- ■ ing is available from the following: Christchurch City Council, Paparua County Council, Riccarton Borough Council, Waimairi County Council, State Advances Corporation? (2) Is it necessary

to lodge separate applications with Christchurch City Council and State Advances Corporation, say, or is one application sufficient to cover all sources? (3) who is eligible to apply for single and double pensioner units and what are the varying conditions, if any? (4) Is there a •means test and/or restriction [on capital? (5) How long [would applicants have to ’wait for single and/or double accommodation?”

Mr W. M. Mackay, manager of the State Advances

Corporation in Christchurch, said that to be eligible for a State pensioner unit applicants must be of an age to qualify for an age benefit; not have an income exceeding the normal age benefit, plus allowable income; or be in receipt of a war pension (1914-18); or

(have assets insufficient to enable them to acquire their own home.

Irrespective of whether an application had been made to !a local body for council accommodation. an application had to be lodged with the State Advances Corporation. Applications for State rental housing, including pensioner accommodation, were considered by the Housing Allocation Committee, he said, a body of private citizens appointed by the Gov-, eminent. Preference was given to those considered to have the greatest housing] need. MORE DOUBLE FLATS

Single flats were at a premium and it was not possible to estimate the waiting time for one of these. But a pensioner couple, if approved by the allocation committee, would be housed within approximately 12 months from lodging the application.

The answer to “Concerned’s” first question was yes, said Mr M. B. Hayes, the Town Clerk of Christchurch. He said the State Advances Corporation had only double units for renting while the councils had both double and single units. Applications were usually made to the local authority in which the applicant lived. In the case of a double unit it would be necessary for an I application to be made to the] corporation as well. Mr Hayes said that the! permitted financial limit for an allocation was $5OOO. ]

He invited the correspondent to call at the housing and property division of his council if any further information was required.