Paying your rent
Find out how to make sure rent payments are as easy as possible. We are here to help you.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to keep on top of your rent and other bills, On this page you’ll find a few useful details, but you can always contact us if you have any questions.
Bond
Kāinga Ora won’t ask for a bond when you move in – we want to make it easier for people to move into a warm, dry home, so we stopped doing this in April 2019.
Rent
Paying your rent on time can save you a lot of stress. A few missed payments might make it feel like things are only going to get worse, so call us if you’re ever concerned about being able to pay on time.
If you know you’re going to miss a payment or have already, we can work together on a plan that makes it easier to repay and means you won’t breach your tenancy agreement. Call us on 0800 801 601 if need any help.
Income-related rent
If you pay income-related rent, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will review it every year, around the date you moved in.
Once they’ve reviewed it, MSD will write to you to let you know if your rent is changing and what those changes will be. MSD will then send you a form to fill out about four months before your rent is due to change.
If you don't want to apply for income-related rent, or your income is over the threshold, that may mean you need to pay market rent for your home.
Remember to let us know immediately if your circumstances change.
For more information
- Call Ministry of Social Development on 0800 559 009.
- They also have more information, including frequently asked questions, on their website(external link)
Insurance
Property insurance
Kāinga Ora has insurance that covers your home including, damage from natural events such as storms, floods and earthquakes.
You do not have to pay for damage from these things. Your Tenancy agreement [PDF, 788 KB] will tell you the insurance that is held on your home.
Damage to your home
If you cause damage to your home, for example break a window, you need to call us on 0800 801 601 to talk about options.
Contents insurance
You will need to pay for insurance on the contents of your home, this might be your tv, bed and clothing. You can talk to your Housing Support Manager who can give you some options of providers.
There are a few different ways you can pay your rent.
If you are on a benefit or superannuation
You can pay by arranging an order on your benefit or superannuation payments. Download the Redirection of benefit form [PDF, 32 KB].
If you receive another income
You can set up an automatic payment. If you are set up with internet banking you can do this online or download the Automatic payment to Kāinga Ora form [PDF, 57 KB].
If your employer is deducting your rent from your wages
Download the Authority to make deductions from wages/salary form [PDF, 40 KB]
If you prefer to pay direct
You can set up and pay by bill payment.
What is a bill payment?
Kāinga Ora is a Bill Payee for all major banks. Bill payments are managed by you for an amount you set. This means you have the flexibility to pay at different times and different amounts as you need to. Just like paying in cash, without having to visit the bank.
Unlike an automatic payment, a bill payment will only go through if you have enough money in your account, so there is no risk of reversed payments.
This can be done online, by telephone or mobile banking.
How do I pay by bill payment?
Online or mobile banking
Register for online banking with your bank, for most banks you can do this online or over the phone.
Once registered you can set up a new bill payment on the internet or from your mobile phone. Select 'Kāinga Ora –Homes and Communities' from the list of bill payee options available and fill in the payment fields as below:
|
Particulars |
Code |
Reference |
|
Rent |
Tenant name |
Payment Reference Number |
For more information on setting up online bill payments select your bank below:
- ANZ(external link)
- ASB(external link)
- BNZ(external link)
- Kiwibank(external link)
- Westpac(external link)
Contact your bank to set up telephone banking. For most banks you can do this by phone. You will need to ask them to add Kāinga Ora to your list of available Bill Payees and fill in the payment fields as below:
|
Particulars |
Code |
Reference |
|
Rent |
Tenant name |
Payment Reference Number |
Questions or help?
If you have any questions call us between 8am-6pm Monday-Friday on 0800 801 601 and press ‘2 - Rent, payment or account enquiries’.
When you call, have your customer reference number handy.
Change of circumstances
If your circumstances change while you are waiting for a Kāinga Ora home, or when you are already living in one, you need to notify the Ministry of Social Development right away by calling Work and Income on 0800 559 009 or Senior Services on 0800 552 002 if you’re over 65.
Read more on what you need to do if your circumstances change
Page updated: 22 November 2024