The Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) has wrapped up its latest initiative and six new households are now moving into their new homes.

The newly-built standalone homes are located at the Hikuwai subdivision on the outskirts of Wanaka, and are made up of one four-bedroom house, three three-bedroom houses and two two bedroom-houses.

Built by Breen Construction, the houses include details like insulation and carpeting in the garages so those spaces can double as playspaces for kids or workshops.

QLCHT executive officer Julie Scott said construction was now complete on the homes and there were another “60 in the pipeline for Hāwea and 10 sections purchased at Northlake with homes in the planning phase”.

The trust exists to help the district’s residents get into good quality affordable housing.

Wanaka Community Board (WCB) chair Barry Bruce and member Ed Taylor had the opportunity to visit the completed Hikuwai homes recently and both of them were impressed.

The homes, located at the Hikuwai subdivision, were built by Breen Construction.

Ed said the level of attention to detail was excellent, noted that the appearance from the street was great, and he complimented the QLCHT team on the excellent programme, saying: “The government is now looking to [QLCHT] as role models.”

The Hikuwai homes come under two of QLCHT’s programmes, ‘Secure Home’ (where the trust owns the land but the buyer purchases the right to live there at the cost of house construction on a 100-year lease) and ‘Rent Saver’ (where tenants rent the property with the option to move to the ‘Secure Home’ after five years if they meet certain criteria).

The six sections at Hikuwai were transferred to QLCHT by Hikuwai developer Lee Brown as part of his obligation when the land was rezoned from rural to residential. 

This process, known as inclusionary zoning, enables a small portion of the value uplift created through the upzoning of land, to be shared with the community for the purposes of affordable housing, which is part of how QLCHT is able to provide homes at below-market prices.

“...it’s rewarding to know we are playing a role in helping a small number of families into their own homes, who would not otherwise be able to access home ownership,” Lee said.

Learn more about the QLCHT here.

PHOTOS: Supplied