Accessible Properties Committed to Quality Housing

Accessible Properties – Committed to quality housing and services for tenants in Tauranga

Media Release
Immediate Release, Friday 12 August, 2016

Accessible Properties is delighted to have been chosen by the Government as the preferred community housing provider for Housing New Zealand houses in Tauranga.
Accessible Properties is a New Zealand-based registered charity, a registered community housing provider and the country’s largest non-government social housing provider.

It is a wholly owned subsidiary of IHC New Zealand, and already manages more than 1600 properties including 500 in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty including Tauranga.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to enter the next negotiation phase to acquire and manage more than a thousand Housing New Zealand houses in Tauranga, says Accessible Properties General Manager Andrew Wilson.

“A core consideration for us entering this transaction is to improve housing conditions and outcomes for tenants. We know what a difference good housing makes, and with the properties we already own we are proud to be able to make a difference and hear what it means for each tenant.“

“The transfer of a large number of homes requires a structured approach,” Andrew says. “We acquired more than 300 homes in Hamilton in a single transaction earlier this year, prioritising good communications, appointing good tenancy managers and getting out there to talk to tenants about their homes and priorities.

“If we are successful in becoming the new landlord for the Tauranga properties, that’s what we plan to do there – make sure each tenant has the latest information and that the transfer will happen as smoothly as possible for them. We are also committed to a programme of improvements and maintenance.

“There will certainly be changes needed – including making sure the houses suit current and future tenants” says Andrew. “But we know that many of the people living in these houses will also benefit from other services. If we are appointed to be the new community housing provider in Tauranga, our specialist tenancy managers will act as community connectors to any other providers whether they be disability, financial, social or culture related.”

“Accessible Properties is proud to have the support of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Entities. If successful in our bid we will work closely with their leaders, particularly through their involvement as members of a proposed Tauranga Social Housing Advisory Group,” says Tauranga local and Accessible Properties’ Chair Paul Adams.

The Tauranga Moana Iwi Entities partnership includes representation from Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi Settlement Trust and Te Rūnanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust and Ngāti Pukenga Iwi ki Tauranga Trust. A Memorandum of Understanding supporting the Accessible Properties bid was signed in June.
You can read more about Accessible Properties here: www.accessibleproperties.co.nz

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