Eight of the 28 new homes in stage one of the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) development site at Longview, Lake Hāwea, have been allocated to families.

QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott said the trust was delighted to help local families own their own homes.

The homes, ranging from one to four bedrooms, are selling for between $350,000 and $427,000 under the trust’s housing schemes, which include Public Housing Rental, Affordable Rental, Rent to Buy and the award-winning Secure Home ownership programme.

“Home ownership opportunities under $430,000 are very scarce in the Queenstown Lakes,” she said. “But under the Secure Home programme, the household buys in based on the cost of house construction and then pays a below-market ground rent on the land. 

One of the eight new homes - of a total 28 to come - delivered by the QLCHT in Longview. 

“It’s a very affordable option for families and couples, particularly in this economic climate.”

The affordable homes are made possible when the QLCHT receives land from developers through the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s Inclusionary Housing process. 

Longview developer Universal Developments gifted 58 sections to the QLCHT as part of this process when applying as a Special Housing Area in 2018.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will also provide support with a 15-year interest-free loan through its Progressive Home Ownership Fund. 

This fund forms part of the government’s bid to increase alternative forms of home ownership around New Zealand.

Further allocations of Longview homes will continue throughout this year and QLCHT has appointed Wānaka local Emma Roberts as tenancy manager to help facilitate this. 

Julie said there are another 20 homes to allocate in the first stage of the development and she encouraged any Upper Clutha locals to review the eligibility criteria and programme details on the QLCHT website.

Learn more on the QLCHT website here.

PHOTOS: Supplied