Annual review process

Clients are given 5-weeks to complete the annual review process. If a client does not complete the review, their Income Related Rent may be increased.

Note a client does not need to provide verification of any financial assistance that they are receiving from MSD.

All social housing clients are automatically sent an initial notice letter informing them that they need to complete an annual review.

The letter and form will be sent 5-weeks before the client's next scheduled review date. The client has 5-weeks to complete the annual review. This allows sufficient time to complete the annual review without any effect on the rate of their Income Related Rent.

If a client has not completed the annual review process a reminder letter will be sent 7-working days before the next scheduled review date.

For more information see:

• Examples of annual review periods
• Next scheduled review date

Generally, you should follow the process for applying changes to an applicable person's rate of Income Related Rent in the same manner you would during the review of a change in circumstances.

For more information see:

• Income Related Rent Notifying a new rate of Income Related Rent
• Income Related Rent Client must be given notice of rent increase - annual review

When the change in income is due to the annual general adjustment to the rates of financial assistance paid by MSD there are some differences in the way you process the annual review.

For more information see:

• Annual general adjustment and assessable income

The abating cap amounts may reduce at annual review (and at a change in circumstances review).

For more information see:

• Grandparented rate for Kāinga Ora clients

You may consider that you do not have sufficient information to process annual review when:

• an applicant has not declared their correct or relevant income details or
• an applicant has not completed to your satisfaction the annual review form or
• an applicant has not returned their annual review form and
• you have insufficient information available to calculate a correct rate of Income Related Rent

If the information received from the client is insufficient to complete the annual review you should attempt to contact the client to request the required information. The client should be given 10 working days to provide the information.

After 10 working days, follow the process for applying changes to an applicable person's rate of Income Related Rent.

For more information see:

• Income Related Rent Increasing the rate of Income Related Rent to the market rent rate
• Income Related Rent Housing provider gives a 60-day notice period

When a client receiving financial assistance from MSD has not completed the annual review form correctly, or has not returned the form, you should consider whether the information MSD already holds is sufficient to complete the annual review.

If you consider the information MSD hold is sufficient, you can use this information to complete the annual review and you do not need to request more information or verification from the client.

At the annual review of the rate of Income Related Rent, the housing provider will be notified of:

• the processing date of the annual review, if the Income Related Rent changes are as a result of the annual general adjustment
• the date of the change in circumstances, if the Income Related Rent changes are as a result of a change in circumstances processed at the annual review