Mangonui flats sale confirmed

An unconditional agreement has been reached to provide for the sale and purchase of a block of six council-owned pensioner flats at Mangonui, Operations Manager for Infrastructure and Assets Sue Hodge confirmed today.


Proceeds from the sale of the flats would be utilized to help upgrade and maintain the balance of the Far North District Council's 146 pensioner accommodation units.


Limited funding for this work had already been set aside and work would start on the Awanui, Ahipara and Kaitaia pensioner housing complexes in March. The upgrades included re-cladding and re-painting selected units, plumbing improvements, and the upgrading of kitchen and bathroom areas.


Negotiations were also continuing towards the return of pensioner units at Russell to the original owners, the Duffus Trust.


"These are not preludes to a wholesale sell-off of pensioner accommodation. The council's general policy in relation to pensioner accommodation is to divest properties to either private or public social housing providers as opportunities arise.


"However there must be sustainable solutions which will reduce the call on rate funding while still protecting the interests of existing tenants and ensuring the demand for this type of accommodation is reasonably satisfied," she said.


"At Mangonui the units have not been in particular demand for some time and at the time the sale was negotiated only one unit of the six units was occupied. Arrangements have been made for that tenancy to continue as part of the sale and purchase agreement," she said.


The agreement was with a Far North company which had indicated it intended to continue to offer the units for rental accommodation. The property was offered for purchase by tender in November last year but failed to attract a satisfactory bid. The current agreement was reached by private treaty.