Social housing complex on Whanganui's Victoria Ave ready for tenants

Compass Housing Services general manager Dr Bernadette Pinnell is backed by the complex's tenancy officer, Shaun Moyle. Photo / Bevan Conley

A new 26-unit social housing complex in central Whanganui will be housing tenants before Christmas.

The units on Victoria Ave will be managed by Compass Housing Services and will be occupied by some of the 269 households registered with the Ministry of Social Development as needing better housing.

Compass general manager Bernadette Pinnell said she had a passion for social housing and finding tenants would be "rewarding".

"People will say 'Is this for me? How long can I stay here?'. I will say 'These are your keys. Welcome home'," Pinnell said.

"If you live and work in nice surrounds, you feel good about yourself, so these people will have a sense of pride. They have the opportunity to move into brand new, warm, dry, sunny, convenient, affordable accommodation.

"Everyone has a right to that. That's our message as an organisation."

Double ranch sliders open to the outdoors. Photo / Bevan Conley

The units are on 0.4ha at 321 Victoria Ave, the site of the former Midtown Motor Inn.

W&W Construction altered the former motel units at the rear, and Isles Construction built a new block at the front.

The owner is Soho Group, a subsidiary of Wallace Development Co. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will pay Compass to manage rents, tenancies and maintenance, and organise community development events such as cooking classes and barbecues.

Tenants will pay 25 per cent of whichever benefit they are on in rent and can stay for as long as they are eligible for housing help.

The units have open plan kitchen and living areas. Photo / Bevan Conley

The units are energy efficient and have car parks and private outdoor space. There's a shared laundry with pay machines, and a shared green space tenants can make decisions about.

"There could be children's play equipment, a barbecue, a community garden. The tenant advisory group will come up with ideas," Pinnell said.

Shaun Moyle will be the tenancy officer for Compass, and have an office on site. He's previously been a tenancy manager for Housing New Zealand in Kilbirnie, Wellington.

The complex has 26 one, two and three bedroom units. Photo / Bevan Conley

Compass already manages social housing in Auckland and Wellington - and soon in Palmerston North.

Wallace Development Co is to develop the remaining building on the street frontage next year.

The units will likely house 70 to 80 people of mixed ages, Pinnell said.