Social housing providers (FOI)

​Request

Following the implementation of a new rental policy by the States in April 2014 and the creation of separate income support housing component rates for private sector and social housing rental properties, this component is no longer capped in respect of social rented properties provided by the five social housing providers (Andium, Jersey Homes Trust, Les Vaux Housing Trust, Christians Together in Jersey Housing Trust and FB Cottages Housing Trust). Instead, the housing component covers the actual weekly rent payable to the social housing providers provided that it is "no more than is reasonable" (Schedule 1, paragraph 4(3)(b) of the Income Support (Jersey) Regulations 2007).

However, if the actual weekly rent payable to the social housing providers is "more than is reasonable" then the housing component is capped at levels that are prescribed in paragraph 4(13) of Schedule 1 of the Regulations (eg from 1 October 2016, £184.24 per week for a one bedroom flat or £235.90 per week for a two bedroom flat). Nevertheless, it is assumed that in some cases, social housing rents could be deemed to be reasonable even if they are higher than the levels prescribed in paragraph 4(13).

I therefore request the following information in respect of rental accommodation provided by each of the five social housing providers:

A

The level of the highest rents currently charged by each social housing provider in respect of (i) one bedroom flats and (ii) two bedroom flats which the Social Security Minister has deemed to be "reasonable" since April 2014, with details of the name, location and number of such units of accommodation and when the Minister's decision was initially made.

B 

The level of the highest rents currently charged by each social housing provider in respect of (i) one bedroom flats and (ii) two bedroom flats which the Social Security Minister has deemed to be "more than is reasonable" since April 2014, with details of the name, location and number of such units of accommodation and when the Minister's decision was initially made.

It is presumed that these details must be held centrally by the States of Jersey because the Social Security Minister would have initially been required to decide whether or not these rents were reasonable for income support purposes and therefore it should not be necessary to make separate Freedom of Information requests to each of the social housing providers themselves.

Response

In respect of part (A) of the question, the following are the highest amounts charged by provider for one and two bedroom flats. It is not possible to specify the name, location or number of units of accommodation as this would potentially allow individual units to be identified.

In respect of part (B) of the question, the answer is that the Minister for Social Security has not deemed any social housing rent to be “more than is reasonable”.

FOI exemption(s) applied:
Article 25 Personal Information

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if:

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.

Justification for exemption

It is not possible to specify the name, location or number of units of accommodation as this would potentially allow individual units to be identified.