Absence from New Zealand
If a client has told MSD before being absent from New Zealand that they are going to be absent for up to 8 weeks, it is not considered to be a permanent change in circumstances and they can have the same rate of Income Related Rent during the period of the absence.
After 8 weeks the rate of Income Related Rent should be reviewed.
If a client does not tell MSD they are going to be absent from New Zealand before they leave, the rate of Income Related Rent should be reviewed straight away.
Reviewing the rate of Income Related Rent
The rate of Income Related Rent needs to be reviewed to confirm that the client's circumstances have not changed when the client has not told MSD they are going to be absent from New Zealand or when an advised absence has been 8 weeks or more.
If the client's circumstances:
- cannot be confirmed, you will need to decide whether to increase the rate of Income Related Rent to the market rent rate
- can be confirmed, you will need to decide whether to increase, decrease or retain the rate of Income Related Rent
When there is more than one applicable person in the household, whichever person is absent from New Zealand may be removed from the household type when the absence is permanent (that is longer than 8 weeks).
Note a signatory to the Tenancy Agreement must not be removed from the household until the housing provider has confirmed they have been released from the agreement.
If the client's partner is absent from New Zealand, you should review the rate of Income Related Rent from the date the assessable income changed or the date the partner left New Zealand - whichever is the later.
Notifying the housing provider
The housing provider will be notified by MSD the client is absent from New Zealand when MSD is aware that this is the case and considers the change to be permanent.
The housing provider can decided whether to end or change a tenancy.
Housing providers have their own policies on tenants being absent from the property they are renting.
