The agreed price and identity of the buyer have yet to be disclosed, as well as future plans for those villages.
All but one of the homes have been vacated ahead of the November 1 eviction deadline.
The three villages had a combined market value of over $20 million, according to a 2022 valuation, and were built in the early 1980s.
The three villages that are being sold. Photo / NZME
The main reason for the sale was the council’s housing portfolio cost more to maintain than it generated in rent.
The council still owns nine villages across Napier totalling about 300 units, which are mainly one bedroom.
The council has previously cited a shortfall of about $2.5 million per year across its entire housing portfolio, picked up by ratepayers.
It was revealed in May that the three villages would be sold as vacant properties, rather than with the tenants remaining.
At the time, 66 residents were still living in those homes.
All impacted tenants have now vacated ahead of the November 1 deadline, apart from one “household”.
“All but one [tenancy] have now identified a new home to move to before the 1 November deadline,” the council spokeswoman said.
“We continue to work closely with the remaining household to find a suitable housing solution.”
She said impacted tenants had been supported by the council’s tenancy co-ordinators, a dedicated housing navigator, MSD, and Age Concern, to find them new homes.
“Housing arrangements have included moves into council’s senior housing, where tenants were eligible and wished to move there, other social housing, private rentals and other private arrangements.”
Robyn McCracken, 72, lived at Nelson Place Village (on Nelson Cres) for 12 years and was moved into another council-owned village in Onekawa last month.
She has stage four terminal cancer which made the move particularly challenging.
However, she said she was settling into a “gorgeous” unit at Henry Charles Village, and the council had helped her by transferring her existing bond (rather than forcing her to pay a new one) and waived an animal bond for her cat.
While she prefers not to drive, she now has to drive to get to shops and services as they are further from her home.
It was her understanding that it had been a harder move for others.
She said that included her former neighbours, aged in their 90s, who had to leave many of their lifelong possessions behind, while moving into a smaller home.
She said she was happy to hear the villages had sold, as it would have been worse for them to sit empty.
The Napier City Council considered selling its entire housing portfolio in 2022, but decided against that option after a public outcry.
The council then decided in 2024 to sell three of the villages.
The three villages long catered for retirees and low-income earners, with rents ranging from $210 to $326 per week.
The council’s remaining affordable housing is reserved for people aged over 60.
Kainga Ora complex hits the open market
Meanwhile, a 39-home Housing NZ Kainga Ora complex opposite Napier Health was put on the open market last week.
It has a deadline sale of December 11. It is also being vacated of residents, with four customers remaining.
It is a stone’s throw from the council-owned Wellesley Place Village.