Kāinga Ora

PHOTO: A state house in Wellington. Photo credit: Getty

State housing provider Kāinga Ora is phoning 6000 tenants to apologise after many received letters saying their rent would go up.

That’s despite the Government putting a six-month freeze on all rent hikes on March 25 due to the fallout from COVID-19.

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In a written statement, Kāinga Ora said most of the letters were mailed out weeks before that announcement, but admits 57 were inadvertently sent after that date.

Spokesperson Paul Commons said the agency was apologetic and had cancelled the increase for all tenants.

“We have written to all tenants to apologise, and inform them the notified rent increase will not be happening. Where tenants have already been charged their new rents, they will be refunded as soon as possible.”

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