Housing developments for first-time buyers: allocation criteria (P.53/2019) – amendment [P.53/2019 Amd.]

STATES OF JERSEY

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HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS: ALLOCATION CRITERIA (P.53/2019) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 11th June 2019 by Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

2019  P.53 Amd.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS: ALLOCATION CRITERIA (P.53/2019) – AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

After the words "buy local property as" delete the word "a". 2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

After the words "is located;" delete the words "and that all families qualified to buy local property as first-time buyers should be treated equally; and" and insert a new paragraph (b) as follows –

"(b)  to agree that all families qualified to buy local property as first-time

buyers  should  be  treated  equally;  notwithstanding  that  anyone presently registered for Parish Housing Schemes currently under development in partnership between Parishes and the Affordable Housing Gateway should not be affected adversely as a result of this proposition; and".

3  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

Delete the original paragraph (b) and substitute with a new paragraph (c) as follows –

"(c)  to request the Minister for Children and Housing to comprehensively

detail and confirm the Allocations and Affordability Criteria used to determine  persons  as  being  eligible  to  access  the  Affordable Housing Gateway register and purchase a family home, and to publish it by the end of 2019.".

DEPUTY I. GARDINER OF ST. HELIER

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. to agree that the Allocations and Affordability Criteria set by the Minister for Children and Housing, which determines when a family is eligible to access the Affordable Housing Gateway register and to purchase a house, should not give priority to anyone based on their ability to demonstrate close links with the Parish in which any affordable housing development is located;
2. to agree that all families qualified to buy local property as first- time buyers should be treated equally; notwithstanding that anyone  presently  registered  for  Parish  Housing  Schemes

currently under development in partnership between Parishes and the Affordable Housing Gateway should not be affected adversely as a result of this proposition; and

3. to  request  the  Minister  for  Children  and  Housing  to comprehensively  detail  and  confirm  the  Allocations  and Affordability  Criteria  used  to  determine  persons  as  being eligible to access the Affordable Housing Gateway register and purchase a family home, and to publish it by the end of 2019.

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P.53/2019 Amd.

REPORT

New paragraph (b)

This amendment to P.53/2019 is being proposed after discussions with colleagues, and recognising that families have  been already promised and  have  made their plans accordingly. I feel it is fair that projects already underway and with developed plans (even those not yet approved) will not be affected.

It is a way not to be wasteful of the resources that have been spent. Paragraph (c)

The general criteria does exist. The amendment is asking to strengthen the criteria and develop it in detail, which will allow clear understanding and transparency in relation to how the waiting-list is prioritised.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no additional resource implications for the Government of Jersey arising from the adoption of this amendment. Required changes can be made within the Department's budget.