Kāinga Ora getting firmer on rent payments – Potaka

14th February 2025 By Staff Reporter | news@propertyticker.co.nz | @propertyticker

Kāinga Ora is introducing clearer consequences for state house tenants who skip rent payments, build up debt, then refuse to work with the social housing provider to encourage better responsibility.

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said that in March 2024, Kāinga Ora was ordered to end its Sustaining Tenancies Framework, which had allowed tenants to stay living in a Kāinga Ora home no matter how threatening or disruptive their behaviour, or how huge their debt from unpaid rent.

“Between 2017 and 2023, the total debt owed to Kāinga Ora by its tenants increased from $1m to $21m,” Potaka said.

“This isn’t in anyone’s best interests – not for tenants or taxpayers. The new rent debt policy being introduced will change that.”