Skip to main content

Affordable Housing Gateway: Year End Performance Report at 31st December 2012

The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.

The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.

STATES OF JERSEY

AFFORDABLE HOUSING GATEWAY: YEAR END PERFORMANCE REPORT AT 31ST DECEMBER 2012

Presented to the States on 15th March 2013 by the Minister for Housing

STATES GREFFE

2013   Price code: B  R.21

REPORT

Introduction

The "Affordable Housing Gateway" was launched in January 2012 and has therefore been  in  operation  for  a  full  year.  There  have  been  a  number  of  significant achievements with the implementation of the Gateway –

  • A common application form is being used by customers;
  • A  single  waiting  list  has  been  created  which  includes  those  applicants previously only registered with a Housing Trust;
  • All Housing Trust waiting lists have closed;
  • All social rented homes are now allocated from the Gateway list;
  • Homes are being allocated to applicants in the greatest need, who have been waiting the longest.
  • The Gateway is now able to reflect true housing demand in Jersey.
  • A total of 497 allocations have been made from the Gateway Year to Date (427 by the Housing Dept, 69 by the Housing Trusts and one by a Parish).

The Gateway is used for new applicants who require affordable housing and also existing tenants who require a transfer to alternative accommodation for one reason or another.

Applicants are visited or interviewed and then assessed against a set of criteria which allows the application to be placed in an appropriate Priority Band. Only Bands 1, 2, 3 and 6  can  be  reasonably  compared  with  figures  generated  from  the  Housing Department's previous waiting list.

 

BAND

CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLICANTS

1

Homeless, i.e. –

  • under Eviction Notice (Court Order in Place)
  • in Tied Accommodation where employment has ceased
  • unable to occupy or return to present home because of Urgent Medical Issue
  • have no rights to stay in current accommodation such as staying with friends or family
  • forced  to  live  apart  from  family  because  present  accommodation  isn't

suitable

  • in "hostel" or "shelter" type of accommodation

Existing tenant needing to Transfer for decant reason Existing tenant under occupying

Any combination of Band 2 characteristics

2

Grave  overcrowding  (opposite  gender  children  sharing  a  room  or  more  than 2 children in one room)

Poor housing standards

 

BAND

CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLICANTS

 

Moderate Medical Cases (by Medical Officer of Health determination) Other social housing transfers

3

Private Rented Sector tenants who are adequately housed but are unable to afford the current rent – with or without financial assistance

4

Presently Adequately Housed – little or no housing need but simply wish to change home

5

Register for those who wish to purchase but require some kind of financial assistance to do so

6

Multi-Agency Supported Housing – Applicants who will require ongoing landlord support to live independently and are only likely to be housed by certain landlords who can offer that extra care'

Overall demand remains high in the top priority bands – Bands 1, 2, 3 and 6. This is undoubtedly due to

  • a slowing-down in the supply of new social housing
  • a worsening economic climate
  • an ageing population.

Demand from new applicants requiring affordable housing to rent

The overall figure demonstrating demand for social rental accommodation for new applicants has increased by 137 applicants over the last 12 months (not including Band 4, as they are deemed adequately housed).

The  number  of  new  applicants  as  at  1st  January  2013  comprised  659 families/ individuals. This figure includes those applicants in Bands 1, 2, 3 and 6 only.

Comparison figures for the position at 1st January in previous years are:

 

2012 – 522

2011 – 425

2010 – 385

2009 – 292

2008 – 254

2007 – 243

During 2012, 315 new applicants were housed, either by the Housing Department or one of the Housing Trusts. Comparison figures for previous years are:

 

2011 – 230

2010 – 206

2009 – 256

2008 – 235

2007 – 207

2006 – 270

Applicants housed through the Gateway during 2012 – by Priority Band and bedroom quantity requirement

 

New applicants housed

 

 

1 Bed

2 Bed

3 Bed

4 Bed

5 + Bed

TOTAL

Band 1

67

97

23

n/a

1

188

Band 2

26

42

15

n/a

n/a

83

Band 3

3

6

n/a

n/a

n/a

9

Band 4

1

4

n/a

n/a

n/a

5

Band 5

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

0

Band 6

19

9

2

n/a

n/a

30

TOTAL

116

158

40

0

1

315

 

Existing tenants transferred

 

 

1 Bed

2 Bed

3 Bed

4 Bed

5 + Bed

TOTAL

Band 1

62

30

25

2

2

121

Band 2

15

9

15

6

2

47

Band 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band 6

7

3

3

1

n/a

14

TOTAL

84

42

43

9

4

182

 

Summary

 

Housed by the Housing Department

427

Housed by the Jersey Homes Trust

30

Housed by Les Vaux Housing Trust

36

Housed by CTJ Housing Trust

3

Housed by a Parish

1

Total Applicants Housed in 2012

497

Total demand for affordable rental

Total number of active applicants assessed through the Gateway, Bands 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6

 

One Bed Need

505

Two Bed Need

450

Three Bed Need

258

Four Bed Need

42

Five+ Need

3

TOTAL

1,258

The figures below represent the properties that would be released by those currently living in a unit of social housing – whether that is with the States or a Housing Trust – when they are transferred to alternative accommodation. Using these figures it is possible to calculate the overall net demand.

Units released  Overall net requirement

 

Bed Quantity

Number

One Bed

105

Two Bed

208

Three Bed

104

Four Bed

11

Five+

0

TOTAL

428

Bed Quantity

Number

One Bed

400

Two Bed

242

Three Bed

154

Four Bed

31

Five+

3

TOTAL

830

The figures demonstrate a continuing need for one- and two-bedroom units, where particularly the elderly and those younger, smaller families, are clearly struggling to source suitable, affordable accommodation in the private sector.

Rolling 12 month Totals (new applicants and transfers)

2011

DEC

 

 

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

885

 

 

1,031

1,220

1,266

1,298

1,241

1,234

1,207

1,226

1,235

1,244

1,249

1,258

Gateway Implementation Commenced

New Applicants Active on the Gateway Waiting List at the close of 2012

Band 1 –  Highest  Priority –  this  Band  refers  to  applicants  who  are  actually homeless, under eviction notice, in tied accommodation, have urgent medical issues, no rights to current accommodation such as staying with family or forced to live apart as present accommodation is not suitable.

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

56

32

26

1

0

115

Band 2 – This Band refers to cases of overcrowding, poor housing standards, moderate medical issues, etc.

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

85

147

72

5

1

310

Band 3 –  This  Band  reflects  applicants  whose  current  accommodation  is unaffordable given their personal circumstances

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

117

112

48

3

0

280

Band 6 –  This  Band  is  reserved  for  agency  referrals  through  the  Supported Housing Group

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

15

3

0

1

0

19

Band 4 – This Band refers to those who are able to re-house themselves in the private sector without financial assistance

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

100

46

21

3

1

171

Existing tenants waiting for a transfer at the close of 2012

Band 1 –  For transferring tenants in social housing this Band refers to those under occupying their current home and urgent medical circumstances

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

60

56

13

4

0

133

Band 2 –  For transferring tenants in social housing this Band refers to those suffering from grave overcrowding or moderate medical circumstances

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

66

49

76

25

1

217

Band 3 – There are currently no transfer applicants in this Band, which relates to those tenants who may need to move on financial grounds.

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

0

0

0

0

0

0

Band 6 – This Band is reserved for agency referrals for transfers through the Supported Housing Group or Assisted Living Team.

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

6

5

2

0

0

13

Band 4 – There are currently no transfer applicants in Band 4, which relates to those who are able to re-house themselves in the private sector without financial assistance.

 

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five + Bed

TOTAL

0

0

0

0

0

0

Average time that an applicant has been waiting on the Gateway

 

Average waiting times within the Bands

for new applicants for affordable housing (in months)

Band

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five+ Bed

Band 1

10

7

14

38

n/a

Band 2

19

19

23

18

3

Band 3

31

27

28

16

n/a

Band 4

35

38

36

35

64

Band 6

10

8

n/a

9

n/a

 

Average waiting times within the Bands

for existing affordable housing tenants awaiting a transfer (in months)

Band

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five+ Bed

Band 1

23

23

20

 9

n/a

Band 2

25

29

20

25

39

Band 3

NO APPLICANTS AT PRESENT

Band 4

Band 6

14

10

14

n/a

n/a

Average Waiting Times – for those housed year to date (31st December 2012)

 

Average waiting times within the Bands

for new applicants for affordable housing now housed (in months)

Band

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five+ Bed

Band 1

7

9

16

n/a

1

Band 2

20

21

29

n/a

n/a

Band 3

16

34

n/a

n/a

n/a

Band 4

16

12

n/a

n/a

n/a

Band 6

5

6

17

n/a

n/a

 

Average waiting times within the Bands

for existing affordable housing tenants who have now been transferred (in months)

Band

One Bed

Two Bed

Three Bed

Four Bed

Five+ Bed

Band 1

24

15

15

15

21

Band 2

21

31

29

33

22

Band 3

NONE HOUSED IN PERIOD

Band 4

Band 6

 7

 2

 6

41

n/a

Band 5 –Applicant Summary – for Affordable Housing Purchase Schemes Total Number of applicants in Band 5 at 31st December 2012:  140 Bed Quantity Request

 

Bed Quantity Request

One

Two

Three

Four +

One or Two

Two or Three

No. of Applicants

3

29

72

5

7

24

Number of Children

 

No. of Children

0

1

2

3

4+

No. of Applicants

28

49

50

11

2

Income Data

 

Income Bracket

Number of Applicants

Less than £15,000

5

£15,000 – £24,999

9

£25,000 – £34,999

19

£35,000 – £44,999

24

£45,000 – £54,999

40

£55,000 – £64,999

22

£65,000 – £74,999

18

£75,000 – £84,999

2

£85,000 – £94,999

1

£95,000 – £104,999

0

£105,000 – £114,999

0

More than £115,000

0

Deposit Availability

Deposit Bracket

Number of Applicants

None

21

Under £10,000

43

£10,000 – £29,000

50

£30,000 – £49,999

15

£50,000 or more

11*


* In most cases these applicants have a flat to sell

in order to release the deposit.

 

Share Transfer

Freehold/Flying Freehold

Leasehold

10

13

1

 

Breakdown of higher earners and their deposit availability

 

 

None

Under £10K

£10K-£29K

£30K-£49K

£50K +

24 x £35,000 – £44,999

1

7

10

3

3

40 x £45,000 – £54,999

9

13

11

6

1

22 x £55,000 – £64,999

3

7

11

0

1

18 x £65,000 – £74,999

4

5

6

1

2

2 x £75,000 – £84,999

0

1

1

0

0

1 x £85,000 – £94,999

0

0

0

0

1