New Zealand / Politics

Kāinga Ora apologises after state housing tenants told rent was going up

18:28 pm on 9 April 2020

State housing provider Kāinga Ora is phoning 6000 tenants to apologise after many received letters saying their rent would go up.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

That's despite the government putting a six-month freeze on all rent hikes on 25 March due to the fallout from Covid-19.

In a written statement, Kāinga Ora said most of the letters were mailed out weeks before that announcement, but admits 57 were inadvertently sent after that date.

  • If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre

Spokesperson Paul Commons said the agency was apologetic and had cancelled the increase for all tenants.

"We have written to all tenants to apologise, and inform them the notified rent increase will not be happening. Where tenants have already been charged their new rents, they will be refunded as soon as possible."

About half of the 6000 affected tenants had been phoned with a personal apology and the rest would also receive a call, Commons said.

"To date, they have all been understanding and we appreciate their support."

See all RNZ coverage of Covid-19

Speaking to media, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern acknowledged that the "automated letter" would have been distressing to receive.

"That was an error. That should never have happened," she said.

About 59 percent of the rent increases were for less than $5.