Minister continues with plans to make social housing more accessible

Monday 30 September 2024

Jersey's Housing Minister has implemented further changes to the eligibility criteria for social housing as part of an ongoing bid to help more young islanders access a home.

The new criteria brought forward by Deputy Sam Mézec enables single islanders and couples without children to access social rented housing from the age of 25.

The figure had already been lowered from 35 to 30 in March this year in line with a roadmap for improving access to social housing in Jersey, published by former Housing Minister David Warr – which also saw the criteria widened in September 2023.

Deputy Mézec has previously said he would "definitely" be open to lowering the social housing age requirement even further as long as the supply was there.

"Young people should not be excluded from social housing"

Deputy Mézec has also has agreed a policy change to make it easier for islanders to apply for an assisted home ownership scheme.

The policy change formally recognises that households may wish to purchase a property when they are older, and gives the Minister discretion to allow someone to purchase a home with a larger income if they cannot access a sufficient mortgage due to their age.

Pictured: Housing Minister Sam Mézec has implemented changes to both social housing eligibility and policies relating to assisted home ownership.

The Minister said: “These changes that I have enacted today will make it easier for more islanders to access the right home for them.  

 “Reducing the age threshold from 30 to 25 to apply for social housing is a step towards making social housing a tenure of choice for as many islanders as possible, providing desirable homes for people from all walks of life in thriving communities.

"Young people should not be excluded from social housing, so I am very pleased to be making this change now."

"Age should not be a barrier to buying your first home"

Deputy Mézec continued: “We’ve been able to make this change as a result of Andium Homes’ investment in building new homes for islanders, with over 1,000 homes to be delivered by 2027.

"As even more of these homes become available next year, it is important for islanders to know that they now have the opportunity to access these homes and apply for social housing through the Affordable Housing Gateway." 

He added: “I also recognise that age should not be a barrier to buying your first home. The Government of Jersey supports home ownership and wants it to be within the reach of as many Islanders as possible.

"The change in policy I have enacted today regarding applications to the assisted home ownership schemes will help those slightly older islanders who are struggling to get a mortgage they can afford.” 

"There was too much of a barrier"

Former Housing Minister David Warr said he was pleased that the changes outlined by the roadmap were being implemented, stating: "There was too much of a barrier for people trying to find housing in the younger age groups."

Pictured: Former Housing Minister David Warr welcomed the changes to the eligibility criteria.

"The challenge the Minister has now is matching supply against demand," he added.

However, Deputy Warr hailed the work of Andium Homes, noting that the company's build programme was the reason the government was in a position to be able to offer social housing to more islanders.