Under the Government's state house sell-off policy, community providers will not be able to on-sell houses bought cheaply for a profit, the Prime Minister says.
John Key said the Government will sell between 1000 and 2000 houses this year, and more sales are possible in subsequent years.
The aim is to provide more housing for vulnerable people, in part by selling some Housing New Zealand homes to community providers.
Mr Key said the government contract will prevent the houses, which will be sold at a discounted price to the providers, from being on-sold unless the Government agrees to it.