Client is suspended by a housing provider

A housing provider might suspend a tenant when they have breached their tenancy agreement.

Suspension means the housing provider is not willing to accept the client as a tenant.

Note the decision to suspend a tenant is made solely by the housing provider, not by MSD.

Some providers also have a waiver policy where the client can apply for the suspension to be lifted.

Kāinga Ora has a suspension policy with a waiver provision.

If a client has been suspended by a particular housing provider they can still:

• apply and be assessed for social housing
  The client can apply for a waiver if the housing provider has a waiver policy.
• be referred to other social housing providers
  For example, another housing provider may offer specialist support services that would help the person to sustain a social tenancy.
• for clients who are suspended from Kāinga Ora, when the suspension has ended, the client will be eligible for matching to Kāinga Ora properties

Housing providers can suspend a tenant in line with their own policies.

In general policies will relate to serious or persistent breaches of their tenancy agreement.

Reasons for suspension may include:

• anti-social behaviour
• fraud
• substantial and repeated rent arrears
• wilful damage