Housing for older people

Twenty-two complexes providing 458 units for rent are located throughout the city. Within each complex, units are generally grouped in blocks of 3 or 4 with the total number of units in each ranging from 6 to 51. There are three basic types of units which are available. These are:

Single Bedsit Units providing self contained accommodation with a kitchen, bathroom, and a combined bedroom and living area. In some cases communal laundry facilities are provided, (where this is not available in the units), and the cost of electricity and maintenance of machines is met by the Council.

Single Bedroom Units providing a separate bedroom, in addition to the living area, kitchen, bathroom and laundry.

To be eligible, applicants must:

     (a) Have reached the age of 60 years (in the case of couples, one must have reached the age of 60 years).

     (b) Be in receipt of income support i.e. Superannuation, Sickness, Invalids,          Unemployment or Emergency Benefit.

     (c)   Have assets totalling no more than the asset barrier of $47,000 for a single person and $55,000 for a couple. This amount does not include furniture, a motorcar or household items.

     (d) Have a genuine housing need. Council expects that as an applicant has a housing need, then that applicant will consider both types of accommodation that are available; bed-sits and single bedroom units.

     (e) Be able to care for themselves independently.

     (f) Have New Zealand Citizenship or Permanent Residency of longer than two years.

     (g) Priority is given to applicants who have currently lived in North Shore City for at least two years and secondly, to those who have relatives who have currently lived in North Shore City for at least two years.

Double Bedroom Units providing one bedroom, but are larger in area to accommodate couples.

The majority of units are rented totally unfurnished. All tenants need to provide their own drapes and in some cases their own floor coverings.

Low cost rental accommodation is available to older people who meet the following criteria.

Obtain an application pack from any area office or the Community Services Department on Level 1 of our head office in Takapuna.

The application form requests details about your current circumstances and your income and assets and includes:

Once completed the forms should be forwarded to Linda McKenzie Administrative Assistant, North Shore City Council Building, Level 1, 1-7 The Strand, Takapuna.

The Council acknowledges every application. If an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, they will be contacted by the Administrative Assistant for an interview with the Coordinator.

Following the interview the application is prioritised according to housing need and the applicant is placed on a waiting list until a suitable unit becomes available. Once a unit is allocated, a tenancy agreement is completed and a fortnightly automatic deduction from your bank is set up for payment of the rent.

Housing rents are set in accordance with Council policy and are subject to an annual review.

The Connection and cost of power and a telephone are the responsibility of the incoming tenant(s).

Council owns 37 units in 3 complexes for owner-occupiers for which different criteria apply. A separate application form and an extensive information leaflet are available on request.

What car parking facilities are available?

Limited parking is available close to the units in most complexes. However, some villages have waiting lists. We will discuss this with you prior to allocating a unit.

Refrigerators are not provided by the Council. Incoming tenants are responsible for the purchase and maintenance of these.

Washing machines are provided by the Council in communal laundries servicing some bed sit units, but if a unit has it’s own laundry facility incoming tenants must provide their own machine.

Heaters are provided in some units, however Council is not responsible for replacing these.

North Shore City Council maintains the buildings and the grounds in each complex, but tenants are responsible for the small garden area immediately outside their own unit.

Pets such as birds or a cat may be allowed under certain circumstances, but no dogs are permitted in any of the complexes.

Further details can be obtained by contacting Liz Watkins, Housing Coordinator on phone 486 8603.

Where are the rental units located?

Bedsits usually have communal laundries but highlighted complex’s bedsits have their own laundry facility

What type of accommodation is available?

To be eligible, applicants must:

Where are the rental units located?

Suburb

Fraser Court

Kings Court

Torbay Flats

Bentley Court

Shepherds Park

Alma Court

MILFORD

Cockayne Court