As well as low income and assets, you must be all of the following to qualify:
- without adequate housing
- 18 years or older
- a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or a new arrival who has submitted an application for permanent residence or refugee status.
When you meet with the Allocations Advisor as a part of your application process, you could be placed in one of the following priority groups.
| Priority group |
Description |
| The fit elderly |
Those able to maintain an independent lifestyle at the time of application |
| Refugees and migrants |
Recently arrived through the quota, asylum seekers accepted by Immigration NewZealand as refugees, and people entering the country under humanitarian or family reunification categories |
| Low-level psychiatric |
Those people able to maintain an independent lifestyle with minimum supervision and support |
| Multiple disadvantaged |
Households with a number of problems that make them vulnerable in the housing market |
| People with physical disabilities |
People with specific accommodation needs as they have a disability |
If you are not in a priority group but meet the criteria listed above, you can still apply for a home and may receive temporary housing (if no one from a priority group is waiting).
Your income and assets
Income
To live in a City Housing home, you cannot earn over a certain amount of money.
The amounts shown below are after tax and before the accommodation supplement (if you receive one).
Effective from 1 July 2021:
| Maximum after-tax income allowed |
| Family type |
Weekly income |
Annual income |
| 1 adult |
$990 |
$57,471 |
| 1 adult and 1 child |
$1,211 |
$62,970 |
| 1 adult and 2 children |
$1,400 |
$72,826 |
| 1 adult and 3 children |
$1,611 |
$83,777 |
| 1 adult and 4 children |
$1,801 |
$93,633 |
| 1 adult and 5 children |
$1,990 |
$103,489 |
| 2 adults |
$1,053 |
$54,756 |
| 2 adults requiring 2 bedrooms |
$1,211 |
$62,970 |
| 2 adults and 1 child |
$1,274 |
$66,255 |
| 2 adults and 2 children |
$1,464 |
$76,111 |
| 2 adults and 3 children |
$1,674 |
$87,062 |
| 2 adults and 4 children |
$1,864 |
$96,918 |
| 2 adults and 5 children |
$2,053 |
$106,774 |
| 3 adults |
$1,611 |
$83,777 |
Assets
To be eligible for subsidised rent from City Housing, there is a limit to the amount of assets you can have.
Your age, as well as your assets, affects how much rent you have to pay.
For more information about rents and how much you have to pay, see: Rent levels and bonds
| You are aged 50 years or younger |
| Your cash and investment assets are worth |
You pay this amount of rent |
| Under $40,940 |
70% of market rent |
| $40,940 and over |
100% of market rent |
| You are aged over 50 years |
| Your cash and investment assets are worth |
You pay this amount of rent |
| Under $58,480 |
70% of market rent |
| $58,480 and over |
100% of market rent |
Reviewing your circumstances
Every year you have to show proof of income and asset details to the Council.
If your circumstances have changed, your rent may go up or down, or you may have to move to a more suitable property.
Find out more: Rent levels and bonds
Smokefree housing
City Housing has a smokefree policy, as part of our focus on providing healthy homes for our tenants, and a healthy workplace for staff.
All units are smokefree. For more information, see Smokefree housing