26 November 2019
The Minister for Children and Housing, Senator Sam Mézec, has published plans to improve access to social housing.
The plans come following the publication of the Review of Access to Social Housing in Jersey report, which was authored by Dr Tim Brown of the Housing Quality Network and published in June 2019. The report focused on the Affordable Housing Gateway – the point of access for social rented housing and assisted home ownership schemes in Jersey.
Senator Mézec has welcomed the report’s recommendations and has set out the response from the government. A phased approach to implementing the recommendations from the report will include:
- introducing a revised banding system to ensure clarity when allocating social housing
- reviewing the eligibility criteria for social rental housing, including income thresholds and age restrictions
- improving the way applications for households with specialist housing requirements are managed
- establishing a housing advice service to provide advice and guidance to all tenants.
Senator Mézec said: “The report was an important and well-evidenced piece of work that set out ways we can strengthen and improve access to social housing.
“The Housing Gateway process has worked well since it was established in 2012, but with new homes being built by Andium Homes and the housing trusts, it is the right time to make changes to make sure the system is able to respond effectively to changing housing needs.”
The proposed changes support the Common Strategic Policy set out by the Council of Ministers in October 2018, including the pledge to reduce income inequality and improve the standard of living, by improving the quality and affordability of housing.
The Minister's report is available on the States Assembly website.
gov.je