The fate of 225 council owned flats and houses will be decided tonight at an Auckland City Council meeting.

The Council will finally put to rest months of uncertainty over what it intends to do with the units. It will decide whether to sell 52 of the non-pensioner flats to Housing New Zealand, 25 to a refuge trust and 59 to Auckland Housing Association.

Council officers had recommended to sell the lot, including the remaining 89 units in Freemans Bay. But councillors seem reluctant to do so. A draft document designed to keep the 89 units will be put before the Council meeting tonight.

The current Council placed a moratorium on flat and house sales last year after the previous council began selling off its housing stock in 1996.

But pressure is mounting from home-owners who bought up housing stock formerly owned by Council. The owner’s group says if the Council does not sell all its Freemans Bay stock it will be going back on its formerly agreed to contractual position. The group threatens possible legal action should Council decide not to sell.

On the other hand, the Tenant’s Action Group wants Council to keep its remaining units. It states many tenants have lived in the flats and houses for 30 to 50 years.

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