The Council's Property Unit is responsible for overseeing the operations of 116 pensioner units, and seven houses under a community housing rental scheme. Of the pensioner units 50 are in Rangiora, 50 in Kaiapoi, 3 in Woodend and 13 in Oxford. All of the community houses are in Rangiora.
Affordable Community Housing
In 2009 the Council, in conjunction with the Canterbury Community Trust, erected seven new three-bedroom houses in the Oxford Estate subdivision in Rangiora. The concept of these houses is to provide a helping hand to young families saving for their own home ownership. The houses are available to rent for a maximum term of five years and not intended for long term accommodation.
Applications for renting the houses are assessed according to the following criteria, and preference is given to those tenants who meet all of the criteria.
- Families with school-age or pre-school children (maximum of six permanent occupants per house).
- With one member of the household employed in the Waimakariri District.
- Combined family income of between $25,000 and $45,000 (as evidenced in last tax return) at commencement of tenancy.
- Can own cars and other vehicles up to a maximum value of $30,000 at commencement of tenancy.
- Can have assets, excluding household chattels, of up to $20,000 at commencement of tenancy.
The Council doesn't keep a waiting list of prospective tenants. When any of the houses become vacant they are advertised for rent in the local papers.
Pets are not allowed in any of the houses.