Attractive 'lure’ for State house tenants

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 1

Attractive 'lure’ for State house tenants

The Housing Corporation intends to make some of it', tenants transfer offers so attractive that they are unlikely to be refused.

The corporation, anxious to make the best use of the 52,000 houses and flats at its disposal for rental, will ask some tenants living in houses too big for them to move to something smaller.

There will be no element of compulsion. Those who do not wish to move will not be made to.

But the corporation is confident that the alternative accommodation will be so attractive that people will not mind moving at all. The waiting list for accommodation in State housing is still so great that the corporation is employing all the resources it can to best use what is available. It has already talked to some tenants living in houses too large for them now. The reaction to the plan has been generally favourable. Sales cut Some time will elapse before the corporation can effect its plans. It has yet to provide much of the alternative attractive accommodation it speaks of. A survey it has already conducted shows that many tenants are living in State houses which a few years ago suited their requirements admirably but were now much too large. The corporation is anxious to ensure that where possible, those invited to move to

[ smaller premises will still, [live in the same district; where their friends might be. 1 Those who cannot get out [of the district fast enough ( will be easier to cater for, says the corporation. To ensure that the size of the housing pool does not diminish, the corporation will not sell any more of its units. There will still be pro- ( vision for the sale of units I at Porirua, Mangere, and I

lOtara, but elsewhere sales will stop. I Negotiations for the sales |of State houses which began [before last Friday will continue under the old policy of selling, but only special cirj cumstances will permit the sale of any other State houses. The change in policy is forced on the corporation by the continuing shortage lof rental accommodation I throughout New Zealand.