Housing for the Elderly

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What is Housing for the Elderly?

We have 140 units throughout the district and applications will be considered from those:

• Aged 65 years or older.
• Who receive a pension, benefit or are on a low income.
• Who have no significant assets.

Applications from those nearing 65 years of age will be considered on a case by case basis for a place on the waiting list.

How to apply for a flat

Complete the application form and obtain two written character references. The referees must have known you for at least 12 months and be unrelated to you. The letters of reference must be accompanied by the referees' names, addresses and contact telephone numbers and not be more than 12 months old.

If you will have difficulty providing references or need help to complete the application form please let us know. 

• Housing for the elderly application form (Two pages 217KB PDF)

If your application is successful, your name will be placed on a waiting list.

When a unit is vacated it is offered to the next applicant on the list for whom it would be suitable. The applicant usually has two days to decide whether to accept. If you refuse a unit, you do not drop to the bottom of the waiting list. However, please tell us why the unit is unsuitable so that we can make a more suitable choice the next time.

Note: We reserve the right to request any applicant to support their application with written reports from personal health or social services professionals. These requests are limited to those occasions where Council staff have concerns about a prospective tenant's ability to live successfully in the unique community housing environment.

What happens if I live outside New Plymouth?

If you live outside New Plymouth, you can post your application so that your name can be placed on the waiting list. A relative or friend can take a preliminary look at any unit allocated to you to save you travelling to look at units (make sure you add their contact details to your application form). However, we do not expect you to make a final decision before seeing the unit yourself.
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Other housing options

If you find that community housing does not suit your needs, you may wish to consider:

Housing New Zealand. You can find them on Devon St, New Plymouth or phone 06-757 5751 to make an appointment with a case manager to find out about the flats and houses they have for rent.

Newspapers. Check the "To Let" columns in The Taranaki Daily News and community newspapers. The best days to look are usually Wednesday and Saturday. Alternatively, place an advertisement yourself. Briefly describe the type of place you would like to rent and provide a contact telephone number.

Community noticeboards. Check for advertisements in shop windows or at clubs you attend, or put up your own.

Real Estate Agents. Many Real Estate agents are also letting agencies. They usually charge a fee equal to a week's rent for signing you up for a tenancy.

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