Increase in State house rent

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 16

Increase in State house rent

Sir. — As a means test beneficiary with no other income and living in a State rental house, could I ask the appropriate Minister the following questions. How can he justify an increase. in my rent from $32.90 per two week period to $39.30 per two week period from August 7, 1981? Could he also tell me what appeal or recourse have I got. if any? Also, could he tell me where I am going to find the extra money? Do we cut out another daily meal, turn our last heater off or can he suggest another way of coping? My family , situation has not changed since the last increase on August 8, 1980. The only thing that happened during this period was in January. 1981, when my benefit, under the restructuring process of the Government, was reduced from $225.52 down to $213.92. but there was no corresponding reduction in rent. — Yours, etc.,

A. BROAD. July 17, 1981.

[The Minister of Housing, Mr Quigley, replies: “Rents of Housing Corporation tenancies are related to the income of the individual tenants. The rents are reviewed on each anniversary of the commencement of the individual tenancies, and any change to the household income within the period between one review and the next will be reflected in the (new) rent assessed. If a tenant’s household income is reduced at some stage between annual reviews, it may be possible for the rent to be rebated temporarily. I suggest that your correspondent discusses this possibility with staff in the corporation’s Christchurch office." |