Amy Adams opens Accessible Properties in Tauranga

Justice Minister Amy Adams is in Tauranga today. Photo/File

From next month Accessible Properties will take over 1138 social houses and tenancies.

The hand-over of houses previously owned by Housing New Zealand was the first regional, large-scale transfer of social housing to a community housing provider.

Minister for Social Housing Amy Adams opened the Tauranga office of Accessible Properties today.

Accessible Properties was one of New Zealand's largest non-government housing providers with a long history of providing good quality housing that prioritises people with disabilities, older people and those on low incomes.

The Tauranga office had been opened in preparation for the transfer of social housing properties.

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Accessible Properties chief executive Greg Orchard said the office would be centrally located and easily accessed through public transport amenities.

"From here Accessible Properties will manage the new properties and bring to our new tenants the same high standard of service our current tenants enjoy," he said.

"We look forward to bringing our years' of experience to Tauranga, providing the stable housing base from which tenants can participate and contribute positively in their local community."

Accessible Properties Tauranga general manager Andrew Wilson they had been providing housing for more than 50 years in Tauranga.

"We have led the way in achieving community integration with social housing and from the new office our tenancy managers will act as community connectors for tenants who would like to access more social or community support services or iwi links.

"We know what a difference good housing makes and with the properties we already own we are proud to be able to make a difference."

Ms Adams said while the ownership of the homes in Tauranga would change nothing would change for the tenants.

In additional to the sale, a commitment has been made to provide an extra 153 properties in Tauranga.

About Accessible Properties:

Accessible Properties is a New Zealand-based registered charity.

It already manages more than 1600 properties and from 1 April this number will increase to more than 2700.

You can read more about Accessible Properties here: www.accessibleproperties.co.nz