Supporting people to independence

Warm, dry, and secure housing along with the right support services helps people to build better lives. Once housed people are better positioned to focus on other aspects of their lives such as finding work, engaging in education or training, contributing to their communities, or accessing medical care. People in need should be able to access housing support for as long as needed. When a person or family is ready, there is additional assistance and support for people to rent or buy in the private sector. This frees up social housing for people in greater need.

Tenancy reviews

The Ministry of Social Development carries out regular reviews to see if tenants still need public housing and the place they’re in still meets their needs.

Accommodation Supplement

Accommodation Supplement (AS) is a weekly payment to assist people who are not in public housing, with their rent, board or the cost of owning a home. A person does not have to be receiving a benefit to qualify for AS. More than 250,000 households use the Accommodation Supplement to help pay rent or board in the private market. More than 33,000 homeowners use the Accommodation Supplement to help pay mortgages.

Temporary Additional Support

Temporary Additional Support (TAS) is a weekly payment that helps to cover essential living costs that cannot be met from their income and through other resources. It is paid for a maximum of 13 weeks, and the recipient does not have to be receiving a benefit to qualify for TAS.

Housing Support Products

Housing Support Products are payments to help people move into and stay in the private rental market.

In March 2023, we introduced improvements to Housing Support Products to ensure our financial support better reflects actual housing costs. Three forms of housing assistance were merged into one programme to simplify the provision of assistance with a single set of eligibility criteria and payments.

People don’t need to be on a benefit to get help. Income and asset limits apply.

Bond Grant – A recoverable payment towards the cost of bond for a tenancy for people who can’t meet this cost themselves.

Rent in Advance – A recoverable payment towards the cost of rent in advance at the start of a tenancy for people who can’t meet this cost themselves.

Rent Arrears Grant – A recoverable payment towards the cost of overdue rent for people who’re at risk of losing their tenancy and can’t meet this cost themselves.

Moving Costs Grant – A recoverable payment to help with the costs of physically moving housing belongings into a new tenancy for people who can’t meet this cost themselves.

Tenancy Costs Cover – Assurance given to landlords who let their property to an eligible person. If that person owes the landlord for costs at the end of the tenancy (over and above the bond), we’ll contribute to those outstanding costs (up to a maximum amount).

Transition to Alternative Housing Grant – A one-off non-recoverable payment to encourage people who are able to move out of public housing and into a private rental.

Factsheets and poster

Below are factsheets and posters about our Housing Support Products.