01 October 2015
The Council of Ministers is inviting Islanders to comment on a new Housing Strategy, which was launched today by the Minister for Housing, Deputy Anne Pryke.
The strategy sets out what the Council of Ministers intends to do to improve the Island’s housing situation. It focusses on improving housing supply and standards, and the neighbourhoods in which we live.
Four objectives have been identified in the Housing Strategy
The objectives are to:
- increase new housing supply
- make the best use of the existing stock
- improve housing standards
- create strong communities and neighbourhoods
Deputy Pryke said “Every Islander should be able to live in secure and stable housing, and this strategy sets out the role that government has in helping deliver this. Good homes and good neighbourhoods feed into almost every one of the Strategic Priorities outlined by this Council of Ministers - from improved health and wellbeing, to transforming our town into a high quality place where people want to live and visit.”
“We know that there are issues to face, but by continuing to work with housing providers, industry and key stakeholders, I hope we can put in place a strategy that works well for Jersey’s future.”
Develop a social housing law
A lot of the work outlined in the strategy is already underway, for example, developing a new social housing law to provide the best possible environment for social housing provision to grow and innovate; new legislation to introduce effective minimum standards for rental accommodation; new legislation for affordable housing sales to support people into home ownership; and housing plans for specific groups, such as people who need extra care and key workers.
In addition, there will be a continuing focus on delivering new housing and making the best of the existing stock – ensuring that planned investment in social housing takes place; making the best use of states assets; and developing new measures to support the provision of more homes.
In July this year, Deputy also published a report on the policy direction for the rental sector, including the development of landlord accreditation and improving security of tenure for people living in non-self-contained accommodation (lodging houses). The Island’s first tenancy deposit protection scheme was also launched last month.
Feedback from the public will help to shape the final strategy, which will be published by the end of the year.
The draft strategy is available today and the deadline for comments is 12 November 2015.
Download the draft Housing Strategy (4.47MB)
Submit your comments
gov.je