STATES tenants who had signed contracts to buy newly built houses at Le Squez are now being asked to pay more money for less property.
The properties were undervalued by £2.4 million by the States - and one States Senator says that the Housing Minister should be censured as a result. Some 33 tenants paid deposits for three- and four-bedroom houses at Phase 1B at Le Squez but have now been told they will have to pay more for 75% of the value of their homes under a shared-equity deal with the States. It will cost each of them around £7,000. The tenants signed the deals in 2004 and 2005 at discounted buying prices around the £200,000 mark - but house price inflation means the properties are worth much more now. Senator Ben Shenton said that ‘legally and morally’ the contracts the 33 tenants signed with the Housing department should be honoured. ‘If the department stick their heels, in then six tenants have told me they will join together and sue the States,’ said Senator Shenton.
Article posted on 21st May, 2007 - 12.00am
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