Rent, Buy or Own
Income-related rent
We charge income-related rent to tenants on low incomes. If your income is below a set amount, your rent will be no more than 25 percent of your income. If your income is above the set amount, the most you would pay for your home is the market rent.
In the event of no income being received by a Housing New Zealand tenant, the income-related rent will be charged at a minimum amount, based on the make-up of the household.
Income-related rent is one way the government helps people on low incomes with the cost of housing. The government pays the difference between the rent you pay, and the market rent (which is what you would pay for a similar house in a similar area if renting from a private landlord).
It is very important that you let us know if your income or circumstances change, as any kind of fraud or false declaration regarding your income-related rent may result in a debt to the Crown.
Please note: income-related rent is not available to community groups.
Defining low income:
If you are single and don't have dependent children, and your income is less than the single living alone rate of New Zealand Superannuation (after tax), your income is considered low. For other tenants, you have low income if it is less than the married couple rate of New Zealand Superannuation (after tax). New Zealand Superannuation amounts are re-set each year on 1 April.
Working out your rent:
Income-related rent is based on your income and, if you have a partner, their income. This includes Family Support, StudyLink payments and some boarder contributions.
Your rent will be based on your income when you accept a house offered to you.
After that, you need to apply for income-related rent every year, or any time your circumstances change. It is very important you let us know as soon as your circumstances change, as that may affect the rent you pay.
At our discretion, we may set a rent lower than income-related rent in exceptional circumstances. These relate to management of properties and/or the pursuit of Housing New Zealand's business and objectives.
How we calculate your rent:
Tenants with income lower than the rate of New Zealand Super may be eligible for income-related rent. If you qualify and you live alone, your weekly rent will be 25 percent of your net (take-home) income up to the New Zealand Super rate. If you earn more than this, 50 percent of your net income that is above the Super rate will be included as rent. You cannot be charged more than the market rent for the property.
For all other households, income-related rent is 25 percent of your household's net income up to the married New Zealand Super rate. If you earn over this, 50 percent of your net income above the married Super rate will be included as rent. You cannot be charged more than the market rent for the property.
How to apply for income-related rent:
You will need to provide income statements for you, and your partner if you have one, for the past 52 weeks. These should include:
- Work and Income payments (call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 to ask for a printout)
- salary and wages (we'll give you a form that you need to ask your employer or insurer to complete)
- StudyLink payments (call StudyLink on 0800 889 900 or Deaf Link free fax 0800 621 621 to ask for a statement)
- proof of accident compensation payments (ask your ACC case manager for an annual statement of your payments)
- self-employment or partnership income, such as your latest annual accounts
- Government Superannuation Fund payments or National Provident Fund payments.
We also need information about savings, investments and other sources of regular income like payments from boarders, flatmates or adult children.
If you need help filling out the income-related rent application, let us know.
Rent queries:
If you disagree with our decision about your rent, talk with staff at your local neighbourhood unit. They may be able to quickly solve the problem, or explain why the decision was made.
If you still disagree, you can ask the Housing New Zealand Review Office to review the decision. To do this, call us, send a letter, or visit your neighbourhood unit. If you're not satisfied with that outcome, you can take the matter to the State Housing Appeals Authority.
