THE number of people still living in non-qualified lodging houses in Jersey has been criticised by the Citizens Advice Bureau in the wake of the Broadlands fire.
Speaking at last night’s 30th anniversary celebrations for CAB, bureau manager Francis Le Gresley said that the accommodation problems for some Island residents had not improved over the three decades of its operations.
As contributions of clothing, toys and cash continued to pour in today in response to the appeal for the 50 residents left homeless after the lodging house on Mont Fallu, St Peter, went up in flames on Monday, concerns have also been raised about fire-fighting water supplies in heavily populated areas of the Island.
Mr Le Gresley (pictured) said last night: ‘I would question the fact that people are still living in large numbers in rooms. It’s not something Jersey has really dealt with yet. ‘People in lodging houses and a number of families are living in rooms. It seems to me that the number of people homeless as a result of the fire was a lot for one lodging house.’
Article posted on 17th July, 2008 - 3.00pm
30 Article Comments
This is yet another opprtunity for our housing minister to deny that there is a shortage of non-qualified housing. This, despite every non qualified person living on the island, knowing the exact opposite. What little there is, is virtually unaffordable anyway and certainly out of reach of the lower paid!
Non quallies is a denial of basic human rights… shocking that Jersey still operates in this way.
I am gob smacked that the CAB, whose saff are voluntary have commented so strongly about lodging houses. Are they qualified in their judgement. I am NON qualified person, who in order to live here, abides by Jerseys rules (unlike some)and purchased a non qualified lodging house. It is a beaufiul, clean, safe and modern property. I am registered for familys and children- but due to my lodgers being professional and full time workers, i have not as yet had any children lodging with me. I am a fair person, although sometimes ive been accused of being biased against kids. Yet I am a single parent. All Lodging Houses should be monitored by the fire service- I had terrible trouble when trying to purchase my lodging house, as the fire officer would not sign off the works carried out here. The Vendor had to amend all the points written by the fire officer and 2months later, we were able to proceed with my purchase. ONLY WHEN THE FIRE OFFICER WAS SATISFIED. Rightly so. I have rented non qualified properties prior to this purchase and paid a fortune for an absolute dreadful mouse infested place. Shame on the landlord. It is disgusting how some people have to live. If Broadland House was indeed a Lodging House as you report, then surely it should have the same scrutiny as other Lodging Houses? When I was looking to purchase a Lodging House, I saw some shockers, but didn’t purchase them as they were so dated and in dreadful states of repair. The Lodging Houses should be inspected well and thoroughly- us owners with nothing to hide, are happy for this to happen. In my opinion for what its worth, its parr for the course. I do not understand how this fire happened. There is not enough non qualified places in Jersey. The market is saturated with cheaply made apartments, that are share transfer- that pose a much higher risk than Lodging Houses.
Well I feel sorry for those that lost all their belongings in the fire. I’m currently looking, again, for accommodation and with no quals I am stuck again. When will something be done to make things a little bit more level for us? I work full time and pay my taxes and understand the system and don’t want handouts of freebies, just an opportunity to find a decent place to live and not be ripped off or share a bathroom with 17 other people. If something isn’t done soon there will be a lot of jobs needed to be filled but no one to take them, as we will have all left the island.
Isn’t this the whole reason why people leave the Island in order to live in reasonable accomodation. The shortage of housing is the reason why there is no continuity in the community. The have’s and have not’s is the Jersey way I’m afraid. The other issue is why is there not an independent body that is designed to go looking at poor accomodation that people live in and if it’s not up to a certain standard, then get the landlords up before the courts.
Too many people have left the Island because of the accomodation issue.
These people know the situation regarding housing when they come here ,they are at liberty to return to their native country if they can not accept the regulations,lets face it its all about money - well off ‘j’ cats land here and buy a property straight away, thats capitalism for you , money talks.
I think it is a disgrace the way non qualified pepole are treated in this island having to live in one room for way over the price 150 pound for a bedsit. i myself am a single mum and i pay 240 a week for a one bedroom flat it is really damp and i have to share a bed with my son who is 5 because i can’t afford a two bedroom flat and . Some of the places i have seen are like something out of the 70s yet the landlords get away with charging over the odds rent and not doing the places up. i think the states of Jersey should be doing something about the standard and prices of accommodation.
Living in Jersey for the last 4 years i moved from place to another never able to find a decent place at a decent price to live - Living in Jersey is HELL you never get to find a decent place to live and as soon as you get a place a month later you are already looking for a cheaper place. The states really should do something about it. Also I’ve never seen in my life a place like Jersey where a pet is considered as a kid some rent offer are not pet no kid this is mad where are we goign then next time it will be nobody accepted anywhere.
The non qualified people live as second class citizens and as slaves to Jersey. In the qualifying time if anybody did have the money to purchase a property by the time they qualify they have lost years of capital gains.
Jersey just uses and abuses people it is high time it was taken up with the European Courts and until they change this law no Jersey people should be allowed to buy in Europe.
I rent out a non-quals granite 1 bed cottage for £750 per month - not all Jersey landlords take advantage of those without quals.
I believe the article to be a true reflection how things look to many people. The non qualified people live as second class citizens and as slaves to Jersey. In the qualifying time if anybody did have the money to purchase a property by the time they qualify they have lost years of capital gains. The situation is disgraceful the parents and children are stigmatised and the situation should be a clear case for intervention. How is it the J Cats have more rights are we not all human beings? Is it not the case Jersey are operating the worst class system in the western world No where in the whole of Europe do they have such draconian laws.12 years qualifying period could be a lifetime for so many people. Perhaps if they can not come in with equal rights as J Cats be fair and put the block on them completely
Jersey just uses and abuses people it is high time it was taken up with the European Courts and until they change this law no Jersey people should be allowed to buy in Europe. Comments have been made why they choose to come here in the first place I agree Britain would be a much better bet but without these people Jersey would come to a grinding halt.
I also agree the local low paid in Jersey also get a very bad deal
Horrible, expensive non-qualified places are shame for Jersey. It is scandal as big as Haute la Garenne. The only difference is that the whole world does not know about it yet. But it is PR catastrophy of the future. NOW is the time to change living conditions of our fellow citizens. Wake up, States members, before it is too late!
If it wasn’t for the unqualified people this Island would grind to a halt. But that is the status of Jersey its not what you know but who you know that will get you anywhere in this Island - oh an don’t forget the big wallets and ridiculous ideas of the states that penalises any working women or man that is on a salary below £35k.
To all non-qualified residents. If Jersey is such a bad place, why do you stay? I agree Jersey does need non-qualified people however we do not force people to work in Jersey. At least you non-qualified workers all have the ability to work in the EU and get the choice. Jersey beans have a page at the back of their passport preventing this, therefore we can only work here or in the UK.
Doug-I too have a stamp in the back of my passport stating i cannot work or live in the E.U yet I have lived and worked in Holland, Spain and Portugal. I received an employment stamp in my passport in Amsterdam and I even pointed the stamp at the back of my passport out to the person giving me the permit. He told me that as long as i had a British passport I could work there, so don’t think that this stamp will make any difference because it’s not worth the paper its printed on. Live and work wherever you want to.
To all you non-qualified people making complaints about Jersey, the answer for you is simple….there is a boat in the morning, why not hop on it!!!
Doug get in the real World you are right that nobody forces the non qualified to work in Jersey but unless Jersey treats people fairly bar them from living in Jersey as if they went to Britain they would fare better all round and then see how the economy fares.
As Tracey has commented Jersey people can work all over Europe.
I hope Europe would put a ban on all Jersey people buying property in Europe until they treat at least J Cats and non qualified the same.
I would repeat again no where in Europe or the western World including Monaco, Guernsey and the Isle of Man do they discriminate against people like Jersey.
Typical no-brainer from Kate the uneducated have been passing these remarks for years. The solution is quite simple if you are going to treat people like third class citizens and not even treat them the same as the J Cats bar them from coming in and in retaliation Europe can bar Jersey people from buying property any where in Europe,
All over Europe the non qualified can get a better deal and progress in their lives more successfully why they pick Jersey is beyond me. Why do people want to live in sub standard accommodation on low wages stigmatised and never have the chance of buying a home because after twelve years property prices have doubled or trebled.
Jersey is a beautiful island with low crime and low tax. I believe the reason people live in lodgings of this standard is because the rest of Jersey makes up for it. If non-qualified restraints were taken away and everyone was treated equally, what do you think this would do to the local property market?
Dominic, my reply wasn’t a typical “no-brainer” response and for your information I had a very good education.
I was merely pointing out if people are claiming to get such a “raw deal” here why would they want to stay.
Dominic, you are wrong to criticise Kate’s comment as a no brainer. Her comment is about as logical as it gets. If you don’t like it, leave.
I am a non-quals British citizen with no J-cat and yet I am happy to stay and pay the extra because I chose to come here and appreciate what Jersey is able to offer me for now. One day I’ll probably move on.
You really should stop ranting about what the rest of Europe allows. Jersey is an Island. It is not realistic to expect it to participate at the same level in the free movement of workers as the main member states.
Practically, there has to be some restriction on the number of people that can live and work here. Regulating accommodation is one solution.
Obviously you need some immigration for the benefit of the economy, which means making it easier for certain types of people to come here (hence J and K cats). This is in the best interests of the Island as whole.
You will find the same thing elsewhere in the world where visas are granted based on what you can offer to the economy or society you are applying to become a part of.
The people you are talking about, living in sub-standard accommodation etc, are often being paid more than they would be at home. Indeed, often the reason that they are here in the first place is to earn the extra to send it home or to save it before returning home.
Living conditions and the general standard of life here (no matter how sub-standard on your scale) is still often much better than where many workers have come from. Hence many choose to stay.
You say that Jersey uses and abuses people. This is not possible given that everyone is free to leave.
I think everyone is missing the point.
Migrant workers make this Island work, in terms of tourism and the succesfull financial industry that it has become. Without them Jersey would be nothing - FACT
Jersey residents should support the migrant workers more and show them more respect. The lodging houses are appalling and the system of non-quals rented accommodation is a blatent breach of human rights, which is completely unneccessary.
Agree with Dingo re the qualies situation. Its not a human rights issue its a practical solution to an obvious need.
However, I would add that landlords who make a mint out of operating run down lodging houses should be forced to provide an adequate standard of accomodation.
It’s not just the non qualified that have it hard over here the Jersey people struggle too but for some reason the people who have no claim to this Island always make it about them.
I feel extremely sorry for all those who have been affected by this devastating fire and truly hope that with the support offered by qualified and non qualified islanders they are able to start getting there lives back on track.
I feel like pointing out that the majority of non qualified islanders who live in lodgings such as Broadlands are the islanders who do not intend on making Jersey their permanent home. Most are normally paying out very little whilst living here and send the majority of their income back to their homeland therefore not putting anything back into the Jersey economy and so not helping to improve the island for all of us who want to be given a chance here.
I agree that some lodging houses are sub standard and rents are high. I am Jersey born and have always worked hard but never managed to afford my own home and so I rent in the private sector. I am extremely fortunate to only pay £1,300 for my property but I will have to move soon and anything in that price range will not accommodate myself and my 3 children. I am not a high earner I earn an average wage. So I will probably end up in a one or two bedroom flat if I am lucky. I sympathise with non qualified islanders but its not just a problem for them.
For your information, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are islands and Monaco is far more sophisticated in every sense than Jersey, but nowhere exercises such archaic regressive system and just because you are happy to be treated like a third class citizen that is your prerogative.
As said before, the solution is quite simple. If you are going to treat people like third-class citizens and not even treat them the same as the J Cats, bar them from coming in and in retaliation Europe can bar Jersey people from buying property anywhere in Europe - that would be fair.
All over Europe the non qualified can get a better deal and progress in their lives more successfully - why they pick Jersey is beyond me. Why do people want to live in sub standard accommodation on low wages stigmatised and never have the chance of buying a home because after twelve years property prices have doubled or trebled?
Do you have no sympathy for these people or would you prefer they were used and not have the benefit of owning their own homes? Perhaps you might not have any ambition, but of the 10,000 non-qualified, many want to get a good life for their families. Your defence of the States if you are non-qualified will not bring you any brownnose points
the states of jersey only think of lining their own pockets, don’t think of locals. i am from jersey, now have better time living in uk
Kate & Doug,
If non-quals folk chose to complain about things that matter to them in Jersey, will you form an “anti-complaining” lynch mob and remove them from the Island for daring to speak out?
Have you ever heard of freedom of speech? Surely the answer is not to tell those people to leave the Island, but rather to listen to what they have to say, and try and resolve their issues?
If you have any morality and decency you would show some compassion for their plight, and at least have the decency to explain to them why they should live in run-down and dangerous accommodation, and why they should pay more money to rent non-qualified accommodation, when it is these people who make “your island” work.
Dominic you clearly don’t know what your talking about.
Firstly it is ridiculous to use Monaco to support your argument… its a 2 sq km prinicpality where only the mega-rich can afford to buy.
As for Gsy, it has a very similar system to here i.e. a local market (90%) and an open market. In the open market prices are much more expensive. They also issue licences to essentially employed people to buy local market properties (just like the J-cat).
In the Isle of Man, they have no restrictions at all on foreigners buying property. This is because they are still encouraging people as much as possible to live there in order to fuel the growing finance industry. In fact the IOM govt. has indicated that soon it may have to impose restrictions like Jersey’s on foreign buyers to avoid the local population becoming poor in what has been a boom economy. The only reason they are behind Jersey in this regard is that the IOM has not been as popular a place to live.
The poor state of lodgings is a totally different issue and of course i agree that money making landlords should be forced to improve conditions.
Dingo - Monaco has a population of 30,000 people, not many people buy, most people rent but you can rent wherever you like.
In Guernsey anybody can buy an open market property or rent an open market property which is a much better system than keeping people for twelve years in non qualified property. Many Portuguese have done well in Jersey but could not buy their own house for twenty years. How many hundreds of thousands would they have lost not being on the property market?
Families do not want to be stigmatised and feel they are lesser human beings. I still say after one puts the local people first everyone else should be treated the same.