Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has transferred the ownership of five senior housing units in Upton Street to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT), a local non-profit community housing provider.   

The transfer means the units will remain in permanent community ownership, providing ongoing access to affordable housing for eligible local seniors.  

QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the transfer allows for more specialised management of the senior housing portfolio.

“The housing trust is a well-established and highly experienced provider of affordable and community housing in the district,” he said.

“Its senior housing is designed to provide affordable, long-term, secure tenure in good quality homes to older people in our community. 

“Tenants will benefit from a high standard of care and tenancy services that comes with having the expertise and resources of a registered community housing provider.”

The asset transfer will also mean the trust can obtain a mortgage to redevelop adjacent land it owns in Wānaka to further increase the number of affordable housing units available in the district in the future.

“We’re excited to be bringing this important community asset into QLCHT’s portfolio,” QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott said. 

“With 18 years’ experience running community housing, our team is well equipped to look after these vulnerable tenants, and we look forward to developing the site further.”

The transfer of titles follows formal consultation and a decision of council to remove the senior housing stock from its strategic assets register.

There are four further council-owned senior housing units located in Arrowtown, which will also be transferred to QLCHT at a later date.

Read more: ‘Big news’ for community housing 

PHOTO: Wānaka App