Eighteen new rental homes on the way

Eight new affordable long-term rental homes in Nelson South are now being built and looking for tenants, with another 10 homes in Atawhai not far behind.

The Nelson Tasman Housing Trust’s (NTHT) affordable housing development at 163 Kawai St is expected to be completed by the end of August this year.

The homes are all two-bedroom, with PV panels to reduce the cost of power, heat pumps, extractor fans, a small outdoor area, level access and one car park.

They are also close to Nelson Hospital, on the bus route, and half of the homes will have wheelchair access.

The trust’s Atawhai development at 76 Dodson Valley Rd includes four two-bedroom, four three-bedroom, and two four-bedroom homes, and is expected to be completed in February 2026.

Tenant applications for both developments are now open, and NTHT director Carrie Mozena says they are looking to commence interviews with prospective tenants over the next three months.

“These are being built as affordable rentals for people on low-to-modest incomes,” she says.

“We seek applicants who can demonstrate reliable income and the ability to pay rent, are willing to get along with and be considerate of neighbours living nearby and can provide positive references from previous landlords.”

To qualify, you must not be on the Ministry of Social Development Housing Register and have a household income at or below the median New Zealand income. This is $1200 - $1600 per week for 1-2 adults, and $2000 - $2400 per week for a family of 4-5.

Applicants may qualify for the accommodation supplement from Work and Income, which assists with affordability.

The project has been supported by HUD’s Affordable Housing Fund, Nelson City Council’s Housing Reserve and the Rātā Foundation.

For more information, contact the NTHT office on 0800 266 325 or email [email protected]