The Review of Access to Social Housing in Jersey focuses on the Affordable Housing Gateway (the single point of access for social rented housing and assisted home ownership schemes in Jersey) and its interaction with customers and social housing providers, Andium Homes and the housing trusts. 

The review of access to social housing looks at issues including: the eligibility criteria and allocations policies for social housing; the priority that is given to applications once on the Housing Gateway waiting list; the process by which households are matched to available properties; and how vulnerable households are supported through the application and allocations process. 

The review proposes a number of in-principle recommendations:

• changing the eligibility criteria for social housing, including changes to income thresholds and allowing groups such as single persons and couples under 50 to access social housing
• a revised banding system to ensure greater clarity when prioritising social housing 
• the establishment of a housing options service to provide housing advice and guidance
• a comprehensive policy document setting out eligibility for social housing 
• improvements to the way applications for households with specialist housing requirements are managed
• a legislative framework to govern the Housing Gateway and allocation process, including a statutory appeals system.

The recommendations will now be reviewed in detail by the Minister for Children and Housing to consider their implementation and where issues may require further investigation.