Pensioner housing sale conditions would protect tenants

Published on 10 April 2015

10 April 2015

Mayor Annette Main today said any potential purchaser of the Wanganui District Council’s pensioner housing complexes would have to meet conditions that would protect existing tenants.

The Council has flagged in its proposed 10-Year Plan 2015-2025 Consultation Document that it is considering options for selling some or all of the pensioner housing portfolio.

“There are a number of reasons we need to consider whether the Council should continue to own and operate pensioner housing,” Mayor Main said.

“The government has indicated that owning community housing is no longer seen as core business for councils. My personal view is that councils are not the best organisations to provide social housing and that there are specialist providers who are able to offer a greater range of services to people as they age.

“We are committed to ensuring pensioner housing is available and continues to be affordable to older people with limited income in our community. However, we cannot afford to keep funding pensioner housing in the same way so we need to look at other options.

“At present we try to break even each year but there are not enough funds to cover all maintenance and improvements so, without some additional funds through borrowing or ratepayer assistance, in time our pensioner housing complexes will become increasingly run down. This will make them less attractive to current tenants and prospective future tenants.”

Mayor Main said she had written to all existing tenants before the 10-Year Plan Consultation Document was published.

“I wanted to ensure that they were aware of the options we are considering before it became public knowledge and to reassure them that if the Council decides to proceed with the sale of some or all of the complexes, the sale would have conditions attached to it which would protect our current tenants.

“We are interested in the community’s feedback on the options for pensioner housing and I encourage people to make a submission so their views can be considered by the Council.”

The 10-Year Plan submission period closes on April 29. The Consultation Document and submission form are available online on the 10-Year Plan page or from the Municipal Building in Guyton Street, Davis Central City Library and Gonville Café Library.