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WQ.101/2018
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 10th JULY 2018
Question
Will the Minister explain –
- what consideration, if any, was given to reviewing the current housing qualifications (in particular for the rental sector) during the term of the previous Minister;
- if it was not reviewed, why this was not included in any such review; and
- what plans the Minister has to review the rationale, effectiveness and fairness of the current housing rules?
Answer
The former Minister for Housing identified the need to address the current system of housing qualifications in the 2016 Housing Strategy.
The Minister was, in particular, concerned about the affordability, standard and security of accommodation for households with Registered' residential status, and the housing needs of key workers.
The Minister, therefore, commissioned the Objective Assessment of Housing Need Report (OAHNR') to determine Jersey's future housing requirements across all categories of tenure for the period 2021 to 2030 – this includes both non-qualified and key worker accommodation.
When the OAHNR is published this autumn, it will help to inform policy development in these areas.
The commitment to address the housing needs of non-qualified residents will also be considered as part of the Migration Policy (P.70/2018). This includes a proposal to review how policies affecting new migrants and their children, such as access to services and housing, could be changed in order to deliver greater consistency across services, enhance social inclusion and improve community integration.
The Migration Policy is currently scheduled for debate by the States Assembly in September and, if adopted, the outcomes of the review will be published in 2019.
The new Minister for Housing fully supports this work and is committed to improving the fairness and the effectiveness of the rules governing residential qualifications, particularly in relation to access to housing.
It should be noted however that any decisions regarding the present system of housing qualifications is a matter that is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and would need to be considered following wider consultation with the Housing and Work Advisory Group and the Council of Ministers.