The politician behind the recently approved housing standards legislation has shared some graphic images to help explain why she believes so strongly that the new regulations are needed.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez persuaded just over half of the island’s politicians to back Environment and Infrastructures plans for things like a register for landlords, a ban on overcrowding, and penalties for owners who allow a property to fall below the minimum living standard.
However, some deputies voted against the proposals accusing E&I of overreaching, setting up renters with higher costs, and allowing things like unannounced inspections of tenanted properties.
Deputy de Sausmarez has dismissed some of those concerns describing “a lot of incorrect/misleading information doing the rounds on social media”.
19 deputies were also concerned about a lack of time they had to review the proposals before the debate.
However, efforts to ‘sursis’ the debate were lost on a tied vote and the discussion proceeded with a win for E&I.
Having had her say during last week’s States debate, Deputy de Sausmarez has also now turned to social media to push her point.
Answering her own question, “why does Guernsey need housing standards legislation?”, Deputy de Sausmarez has said all of the pictures shared in her posts on Facebook and X show properties in the island that are being lived in currently.
“There are far more people living like this in our beautiful island than most probably assume, because our old law (which dates from 1934) just isn’t fit for purpose,” she added.
She says the new law, which includes a minimum standard for accommodation, are not “costly or burdensome or overbearing”.
Deputy de Sausmarez said landlords will have to pay “just £24” per year to be registered while overcrowding rules won’t impact things like children having friends to sleepover.
She also confirmed that all States and Guernsey Housing Association properties will be covered by the new legislation, in answer to one member of the public who described some of them as “horrific”.
Writing on X, Deputy de Sausmarez confirmed that unannounced inspections of properties will not be permitted under the new laws.
She said: “Entry to a property is only permitted with the consent of the (adult) occupier or controller. If no such consent is granted, a warrant from the Magistrate’s Court is required, and that needs to satisfy the (court) there is good reason – a high bar.”
She also added that “all enforcement measures are subject to a graduated policy, where the lightest-touch measures are used, progressing only if those don’t work. These powers are v similar to a) existing powers in Guernsey re: businesses (where they are not abused), and b) comparable jurisdictions.”
The photos shared by Deputy de Sausmarez are below:
