Social housing providers

To become a provider of social housing receiving the income-related rent subsidy, you would need to be eligible and achieve registration with the Community Housing Regulatory Authority (CHRA) first.

Community Housing Regulatory Authorityexternal

Placing people with social housing providers

We assess each person or household’s eligibility for public housing based on their needs. When we assess their needs we look at:

• their ability to afford alternative private housing
• the standard of their current housing
• the extent to which the applicant’s current housing meets their needs (includes overcrowding)
• particular factors such as accessibility or discrimination that may prevent them from finding housing
• their ability to afford non-social housing in the long term.

Depending on their needs and options, households may be put on the public housing register and referred to a public housing provider.

Providers are responsible for matching applicants to properties, based on their needs. People and households with the greatest needs are placed first.

Timeframes for referral outcomes

When a client is referred to a provider, they are temporarily unavailable for referral elsewhere. To avoid delays for the client, please let us know the outcome of the referral as soon as possible.

Health and disability information

We may not always know if a client is a Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora patient.

If a client has specific health or disability needs relating to housing, this will be included in the referral. For example, if a client needs a modified property.

If you need more information to make a decision, you can ask us.

For more detailed information, especially around mental health, it’s best to discuss directly with the client.

Tenants without our referral

You can house others under your own criteria, but IRRS cannot be claimed for those tenancies. Only clients referred from our public housing register are eligible for the IRR subsidy.

Tenants not eligible for IRRS may still qualify for an Accommodation Supplement.

Accommodation Supplement

Income Related Rent Subsidy (IRRS)

Tenants in public housing pay income-related rent (IRR). We calculate this based on the household’s income.

If a tenant’s circumstances change — for example, they start or stop working, or enter a relationship — their IRR will be reassessed.

Rent in advance and bond

Rent in advance and bond payments are based on the tenant’s IRR, not the market rent. A landlord can ask for:

• Up to 2 weeks’ rent in advance
• Up to 4 weeks’ rent as bond

For more details, visit the Tenancy Services website.

Charging a bond (Tenancy Services)external

Market rent

The IRR is the amount the tenant pays to their landlord, regardless of the market rent for the property. 

If the IRR is higher than the market rent, you must list the market rent instead. You cannot charge more than market rent.

If a tenant is paying market rent, the provider cannot claim the IRR subsidy.

Tenancy Agreement

The rent to be paid by the tenant at the start of the tenancy is the rental amount that goes on the Tenancy Agreement.

Tenancy Agreements (Tenancy Services)external

Operational Guidelines for IRRS

The Operational Guidelines for IRRS Service agreements show the:

• business processes
• administrative functions, and
• interactions between you, HUD and MSD.

This is to assist you with a range of delivery requirements outlined in your Open Term or Capacity Service Agreements.

Business Online Services is the system that community housing providers use in their day-to-day interactions.