A potential solution to Queenstown’s housing-affordability crisis was unveiled at Lake Hayes Estate on Monday.
A transportable two-bedroom, 60 square metre house that cost the owner just $230,000 was trucked on to a section in Howards Drive.
It was the first home completed by Queenstown-owned Clever Homes Ltd, which is building transportable, affordable houses.
Owned by Kahn Winters and his partner Alexandra Huitt, the company’s also building three-bedroom, 97sqm homes priced from $285,000, and 106sqm, four-bedroom homes from $308,000.
The Lake Hayes Estate two-bedder itself is only $211,554 — the balance was for onsite works and transport costs.
An electrician by trade who’s been in the construction industry for about 15 years, Winters says he ‘‘saw a gap in the market’’, and believes the homes will suit the Central Otago and Southland regions.
Rachel Albers, Clever Homes’ Queenstown-based business & development manager, says they’re ‘‘definitely entry-level houses, but really comfortable’’.
‘‘There are options to up grade things like your carpets, or if you prefer stone benchtops.
“You’ve got a full choice of colours, and you can add cedar to the front, if you want.’’
She says they’d also suit someone who’d like a sleepout, or a little investment property.
Winters says he’s also had inquiries from local people with a development site they’ll eventually build on, but who’d meantime like a return on a small home which they can later on-sell and move off the land.
Albers says their houses also comply with healthy-homes legislation, and will be redesign ed to fit in with new insulation rules due out next year.
‘‘The main saving is the five-month build timeframe, meaning it is easier to lock in a fixed-price contract and avoid on going interest rate increases.’’
She adds they’re building in partnership with Bunnings, ‘‘which is how we’ve got guaranteed supply’’.
‘‘Kiwis have traditionally built 200sqm houses, but with the current economic situation I think they’re going to be looking to build smaller.’’
Winters says they couldn’t find affordable Queenstown industrial land to build their homes on, so they chose a site in Alexandra, where they’ve also been able to source builders from.
Albers is keen to discuss opportunities with the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust.
She also believes the Queenstown council’s proposed inclusionary zoning district plan provisions, aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing, will open up possibilities for their product.
