Providing accommodation for RSE workers
From the 2019/20 season, the Government has introduced changes in some regions of New Zealand to the type of accommodation you can offer your workers.
Where the changes apply
Restrictions apply if your Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers are in:
- Northland
- Auckland — including upper Auckland
- Bay of Plenty
- Hawke’s Bay
- Marlborough
- Nelson and Tasman, or
- Otago.
No other regions of New Zealand are affected by the accommodation restrictions and the restrictions apply only to accommodation you are using for the first time.
If you are not sure where your property is located, check its legal address and council boundaries.
Council maps and websites – Local Government New Zealand
Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay
Your RSE workers must not live in a residential house unless:
- the house was included in an Agreement to Recruit (ATR) approved before 26 September 2019, or
- you own the house, and bought it on or before 26 September 2019.
You cannot:
- rent a residential house you have not previously used to accommodate RSE workers, or
- buy a residential house after 26 September 2019 to accommodate RSE workers, even if you intend to significantly modify it.
Auckland (including upper Auckland), Northland, Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman and Otago
Your RSE workers must not live in a residential house unless:
- the house was included in an Agreement to Recruit (ATR) approved before 26 September 2019, or
- you own it.
You cannot rent a residential house you have not previously used as accommodation for RSE workers. You can still buy a residential house, but the Government expects that you will plan to offer purpose-built accommodation to your workers as soon as you can.
The type of housing you can offer
Even though you may not be able to use a residential house, you can accommodate your RSE workers in:
- purpose-built seasonal worker accommodation
- a converted or re-purposed property converted into seasonal worker accommodation
- a house on a commercial orchard or vineyard
- guest accommodation, such as:
- a designated boarding house
- a home-stay or billeting arrangement
- motels.
The existing quality guidelines for suitable accommodation assessed by the Labour Inspectorate will continue to apply.
Guidance on accommodation requirements
Healthy homes — Tenancy Services
Boarding houses — Tenancy Services
Types of tenancies — Tenancy Services