Empty state house saddens neighbours

Ridiculous vacancy . . . John Parker and Theresa Crosbie in Meridian St, Port Chalmers, outside a...
Ridiculous vacancy . . . John Parker and Theresa Crosbie in Meridian St, Port Chalmers, outside a neighbouring empty state house. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Neighbours are disappointed a Port Chalmers state house remains vacant as prospective tenants prefer other suburbs.

John Parker said he had lived next door to the state house at 36 Meridian St for the past 40 years. It was a mystery why the state house had been vacant for nearly four years and a perpetual neighbourhood talking point, he said.

''It seems a shame it is not utilised in some way.''

The house had a new shower, fireplace, insulation and a new roof and would deteriorate if left empty.

The paint on the weatherboards had begun to flake.

''A house is like a car - if it is left hanging around and not used it deteriorates, slowly but surely. If you leave a house, the same thing applies,'' Mr Parker said.

The three-bedroom house was on a sloping quarter-acre section. Out the front, a children's swing hangs from a pohutakawa tree. Out the back there is a view of Roseneath and Sawyers Bay across Otago Harbour.

''It's a real nice spot,'' Mr Parker said.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) contractors mowed the lawns once a fortnight.

He maintained the hedge the house shared with the former state house he owned.

Neighbour Theresa Crosbie said she passed the vacant state home on her daily walk and was tired of seeing the house empty.

''I want a young family to go in there.''

She contacted HNZ and was told nobody wanted to move to Port Chalmers for the state house.

Prospective tenants discounting Port Chalmers was ''ridiculous'' because the area had plenty to offer, including great schooling, shops, library and public transport.

Housing New Zealand area manager Kate Milton said the state house had been vacant since June 2011 because there was ''low demand'' for a three-bedroom house in Port Chalmers.

The house was built in 1941 and was surplus to requirements. It would be put up for sale through the First Home Ownership Scheme programme - a home ownership initiative to help people to buy selected state homes.

HNZ owned 1465 properties in greater Dunedin, including Mosgiel and Port Chalmers, and 32 were vacant.

''Housing New Zealand has identified earthquake-prone issues with some of these properties, prompting those houses to be vacated while thorough seismic assessments were carried out.''

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

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