Council flats being sublet

Tenants of Wellington City Council flats are illegally subletting rooms - sometimes for more than they pay for the apartment.

A woman discovered the scam when looking for accommodation. She visited a two-bedroom apartment being rented by a Chinese couple, who offered to rent out one tiny room - less than 10 sq m - for $130 a week.

The Central Park Flats in Nairn St is deemed to be social housing.

"They pay about $100 to the city council for the two-bedroom flat. They live in one big bedroom and sublet the small one. They are effectively living there rent-free and making on the deal," the woman said.

She is angry ratepayers are being ripped off.

The Tenancy Agreement on Wellington City Council's website clearly prohibits subletting.

Tenancy operations manager Carol Gould confirmed the council was investigating subletting in Central Park Flats.