Pensioners ‘forced to lie about assets’

Press, 5 December 1978, Page 6

Pensioners ‘forced to lie about assets’

Some pensioners were . being forced to lie about their assets to qualify for council housing, said Christchurch councillors yesterday. This was because the $7500 asset limit was not realistic. Some elderly homeowners were not able to afford to buy council flats unless' they raised another mortgage after selling their present : houses, and were hesitant to commit themselves to that, mortgage. The council should keep;: pushing for a $lO,OOO asset I ■ limit, said the housing and ; property committee, even 11 though the Minister of!] Housing (Mr Holland) could! not foresee such an increase. ;: Mr Holland said he sym-h pathised with the council’s i 1

argument, but Christchurch’s pensioner housing situation did not fit the national pattern. In Christchurch and some other places, “the stage has been reached where, in terms of criteria set by the Government, there is at present no established need for further construction,” said Mr Holland, in a letter. The Housing Corporation was reviewing elderly perisons’ housing provisions, he [said “in particular that area [ concerning elderly persons | whose assets should enable [them to acquire their own housing.” Any move to increase the asset limit should not be I done in isolation, Mr Holland said.