Nicola Willis apologises for saying social housing tenants had ‘won the Lotto’

Thursday, 21 May 2026

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she regrets stating social housing tenants had “won the Lotto” in response to questions relating to the Government’s new housing policy.

Social housing tenants will pay higher rents from April 2027 as Cabinet mulls tougher rules relating to tenancy durations and responsibilities.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has pitched the sweeping reforms as a necessary step to recalibrate a system that incentivises people who could otherwise afford a private rental to stay in a state house, while those with higher needs languish on the wait list.

Willis was asked at Parliament “why should social housing tenants have to pay for the budget?”

Willis rejected they were and went on to say it would make the system fairer, where she made the Lotto comment.

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“At the moment people in social housing effectively have won the Lotto. They get so much more support than a family with just as low an income in a private rental.

“That’s not fair and our changes are about fixing it.”

In a statement provided to The Post ,Willis said: “I regret using this phrase because people living in social housing are often in very difficult circumstances and the phrase I used implied otherwise.”

The minister said she reached for the wrong metaphor when trying to make a point about fairness in the housing system.

“I will not be using this phrase again.”