Waikato District Council is committed to providing affordable and comfortable housing for senior citizens in Ngaruawahia, Huntly and Tuakau. We offer a total of 34 self-contained one-bedroom pensioner units across these three locations, all of which are designed to cater to the specific needs of the elderly.
Living in a Council unit has many advantages. You’ll be charged an affordable rent and enjoy privacy and independence. You’ll have direct contact with Council Housing staff and benefit from security and the companionship of close neighbours. Our staff regularly maintain the lawns and gardens. Tenants are required to maintain the garden areas designated to their unit. We provide external security lighting at most of the complexes. We ensure that the unit is clean, safe and in good condition before you move in. We give you 48 hour’s written notice before an inspection is carried out. You can participate in, and benefit from, an active neighbourhood support group in some complexes. Building insurance and rates are paid by Council, and most units have off-street parking.
To apply for a Council unit, you must complete an application form. Eligibility for housing depends on several factors, including whether you can care for yourself independently, provide evidence of a good tenancy history or written references, and meet the financial eligibility criteria outlined in the application form. If a unit is available, you could move in immediately. However, if none are available, your name will be added to the waiting list.
To get the application form, you can download and print it from the Council’s website, visit one of our offices or libraries, or call 0800 492 452 to request a Housing for the Elderly pack. Applications can be sent via post using the prepaid envelope enclosed in the Housing for the Elderly pack to the address mentioned above.
After receiving your application, we will contact you for a face-to-face meeting. If you meet the eligibility criteria, your name will be added to our housing waiting list until a unit in your preferred area becomes available. It is important to ensure that all required documentation and forms are submitted with your application, as incomplete applications will be returned to you.
Please note that the housing application is a statutory declaration and must be signed by a duly authorised person, such as a Justice of the Peace, Solicitor or Duty Registrar. If English is not your first language, you are welcome to bring a support person to the face-to-face meeting, including a translator.
The eligibility criteria for Housing for the Elderly in Waikato District are as follows:
- Applicants must be 65 years of age or over.
- Applicants must not be in full-time employment.
- The combined value of the applicant’s assets must not exceed the figures mentioned above.
- Applicants on a benefit other than an age-related benefit, national superannuation, or war pension, and who are over 65 years old will be considered if the applicant’s sole source of income is fixed.
- The applicant must have a housing need as determined by Waikato District Council.
- Applicants must be in a position to care for themselves independently (medical certificate to be supplied).
- The applicant must be a permanent New Zealand resident or citizen.
- Applicants who own land or property may not qualify.
Please note that only pets kept mainly indoors such as fish or caged birds, or one cat, are permitted in this housing. No dogs are allowed.
Consideration of applications will be based on the length of residence in the Waikato District, area of residence, urgency for accommodation due to current circumstances, the need for proximity to relatives in the Waikato District