Living in your home

How you pay rent depends on your source of income:

• If you are receiving a main benefit, like Job Seeker or superannuation, then your rent should be paid automatically by the Ministry of Social Development (including Work and Income) from your benefit. This means your rent is sent to us directly. It also means that any changes in your rent are usually handled automatically.
• If you are working, you can ask your employer to take your rent from your wages.
• If you are on ACC, you can get your rent paid out of your weekly compensation.

Pay by automatic payment or internet bill payment

You can also pay rent and other payments to us by automatic payment or internet bill payment. 

Tāmaki Housing is listed as a bill payee with all major banks. Select Tāmaki Housing from the list of bill payee options available, then fill in the payment fields as below:

Particulars: Your last name (surname)
Code: Payment type, e.g. RENT
Reference: Your payment reference (this number is shown on all the letters you get from us, or you can call us on 0800 521 555 to check your payment reference number)

Pay through a BNZ ATM 

BNZ’s smart ATMs will guide you through making a payment to us. You will need to enter your payment reference (this number is included on all our letters to you), to make sure we know who the payment is from. You should also enter your last name on the payment screen. You can get a receipt as proof of payment.

Pay by cash or EFTPOS at any BNZ branch

You don’t need to fill in a deposit slip if you pay this way. Just let the bank teller know you want to make a deposit to Tāmaki Housing, then share your details – they will need your last name, payment type (e.g. rent) and payment reference (this number is included on all our letters to you). You will get a receipt as proof of payment. 

Pay by automatic payment or internet bill payment

Tāmaki Housing is listed as a bill payee with all major banks. Select Tāmaki Housing from the list of bill payee options available, then fill in the payment fields as below:

Particulars: Your last name
Code: Payment type, e.g. DAMAGE or RENT (you only need to put RENT when paying for overdue rent)
Reference: Your payment reference (this number is shown on all the letters you get from us, or you can call us on 0800 521 555 to check your payment reference number)

Pay through a BNZ ATM

BNZ’s smart ATMs will guide you through making a payment to us. You will need to enter your payment reference (this number is included on all our letters to you), to make sure we know who the payment is from. You should also enter your last name on the payment screen. You can get a receipt as proof of payment.

Pay by cash or EFTPOS at any BNZ branch

You don’t need to fill in a deposit slip if you pay this way. Just let the bank teller know you want to make a deposit to Tāmaki Housing, then share your details – they will need your last name, payment type (e.g. rent) and payment reference (this number is included on all our letters to you). You will get a receipt as proof of payment. 

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will look at your income and rent at least once a year. That’s because any changes in your income or situation could affect the amount of rent you need to pay. MSD will contact you to ask for updated information. If your rent needs to change, MSD will send you a letter to let you know. Then we will send you another letter that includes the start date of the new rent amount, so that you can adjust your payments.

If you don’t agree with the decision MSD makes about your rent, you can call them on 0800 673 468 to talk about your concerns, or contact them through their website.

Paying too much rent can happen, for example, when your rent goes down but you keep paying us the old amount. If this happens, we will send you a letter to sort out a refund. We will need a couple of things from you so we can pay you the refund:

• Confirmation of your bank account name and bank account number (e.g. a deposit slip, a bank statement, or a print-out from the bank teller)
• Proof of your identity (e.g. drivers licence, passport, HANZ 18+ or Kiwi Access card).

Some of our tenants ask a trusted person (or agent) to help manage some parts of their tenancy for them. Often this agent is a son or daughter, but it could be someone from a local organisation or a church leader, for example.

If you want them to, your agent can do things for you like:

• Talk to us about your tenancy
• Look at your file to see what information we have about you, including payments
• Get your mail from us
• Give information about you to Tāmaki Housing
• Appear in your place at a court or tribunal

You are responsible for choosing your agent and anything they do for you. So it is important you choose someone you can trust.

Talk to your tenancy manager if you want someone to be your agent.

We are working to replace almost all the old state houses in Tāmaki with new warm, dry healthy homes as part of the Tāmaki Regeneration Programme. If we need you to move out of your home as part of this work, we have a team that will work closely with you. We will help find a new home in Tāmaki that is right for your whānau, and will always follow the Tāmaki Commitment: Those who wish to stay in Tāmaki will have the opportunity to do so.

We will also help you with your move into your new home. We will visit you to let you know about these plans around 12 months before you’ll need to move, and we work with you every step of the way until you are moved into your new home.

It’s easy. Just add your request to this form and we’ll send you a copy by post or email.

We take our responsibilities as a landlord seriously. When you become a tenant with us we will:

• Prepare a residential tenancy agreement for you, answer any questions you have about the agreement, and give you a copy before you move in.
• Give your bond money to Tenancy Services.
• Make sure the house is clean and tidy, and that everything is working properly before you move in.
• Fix things in your home when you tell us they’re not working, and keep your home in a reasonable state of repair.
• Meet with you at your home from time to time to talk about your tenancy and check that everything in the property is still working properly.
• Send you a letter at least 48 hours before we want to come to your home (as long as it’s not to fix something that is urgent). 
• Pay bills for rates and insurance (if applicable) for your home.
• Make sure your doors and windows close properly and have adequate locks and fastenings.
• Let you know promptly about any increase or decrease in your rent.
• Take reasonable steps to make sure you are not disturbed by any of our other tenants.
• Respect and protect any information that you give us about yourself or your family.

When you are living in a Tāmaki Housing home, it is important that you:

• Pay the rent on time. Talk to us if you think you might have a problem with this and we can work together to find a solution.
• Pay the bills for your home, like electricity, gas (if you have it), and phone charges.
• Care for your house and garden and keep them looking good. 
• Tell us if anything gets damaged or needs fixing, as soon as possible. 
• Be a good neighbour.
• Let us know if anyone (including friends or family) is staying at your home longer term. You will need to let the Ministry of Social Development know too.
• Take all your belongings with you and remove any rubbish when you move out at the end of your tenancy. Leave the property clean and tidy and give us the keys. But don’t take away any furniture or appliances that we own.