Ten-year qualifications on way, insists Le Main
Tuesday 6th January 2009, 2:55PM GMT.
HOUSING Minister Terry Le Main is to press on with plans to reduce the wait for housing qualifications by another two years, despite objections from some of his political colleagues.
Last month Senator Le Main told the JEP that he intended to ask the States to bring down the wait for housing qualifications from 12 to ten years. He believes that the time is right to consider reducing the wait for ‘qualies’ because the housing market has slowed dramatically over the last few months.
But he has come under fire from JEP readers and politicians over this suggestion, which is now one of the most commented upon articles on the JEP website www.thisisjersey.com. Many Islanders are not convinced that reducing the time limit is going to have too much effect on the housing market, whereas others have welcomed the suggestion.
Senator Le Main said that he did not read comments on the website or blog entries and confirmed that he had not changed his mind. ‘As I said last year, my officers will look at the effects of reducing the wait for housing qualifications further, and once I get their advice I will look at it,’ he said.
Pictured: Senator Le Main believes there are not enough affordable houses on the marketplace
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Excellent idea Terry. There are so many properties for sale. Anything to kick start the economy. For goodness sake we all benefit surely?
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No No No Nobody wants this – we didn’t vote for you to ignore us all! Someone stop him!
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It is amazing to read that the Senator does not follow blogs or read comments on websites.
There are some strange opinions out there but there are some sensible opinions as well.
Maybe politicians should not govern with only public opinion in mind but they should certainly consider it.
I personally think that changing the period will have little or no effect. People are looking at prices that are very high and wondering if they may fall and the heftiest deterrent of all is that banks are demanding large deposits and are not willing to go as high in terms of salary multiples as they were to protect themselves.
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This will only create yet more demand for states accommodation – have they not learned the lessons of the past ?
House prices are too high, they are falling nearly everywhere in the western world and need to fall here as well
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“.. because the housing market has slowed dramatically over the last few months”. It slowed, it did not go into reverse as in the UK.
Where was the intervention when house prices exploded dramatically? Of course, our politicians did not care that it is impossible for a large number of residents even to dream of owing a house now. But now, the hefty profits do not continue to increase astronomically and they suddenly care.
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Please remember to inform your elected representative about your feelings.
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Perhaps Terry Le Main, like John Mcain, belives that all those Email and Bloggie things, on that box with the keyboard, are just for the kids……Not important to read what the electorate think about your ideas.
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Knowing someone who would benefit from this i asked the question:
what difference does this make to you?
Answer: Not a single bean!
Property skyhigh
Banks not lending
Rents unrealistic even in qual housing
Housing from States would most likly take another 10 years to get and then it would be a bedsit as they have no family!
The list went on and on.
So where is the benefit?
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Sorry but to add to the above:
“Senator Le Main believes there are not enough affordable houses on the marketplace”
So why try and prop the market up?
Why not let the prices drop to a realistic value so that affordable housing becomes avl?
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This is just a way of keeping house prices and rentals for qualified people high. We need a down turn so that people born here can at least have some chance of buying. Greed yet again runs States decisions and no doubt economic development will be fully supportive of this diabolical proposal.
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Terry Le Main does not seem to be listening, NO NO NO to a reduction of qualifications.
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Local families are struggling to afford to buy at the current inflated prices. House prices are unrealistic and need to come down. Who does Senator Le Main really represent…estate agents or young, local Jersey families?
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Yes, yes, yes, if someone has lived in Jersey for 10 years in non-qual accommodation surely that is a commitment in itself to the island to be “qualified”?
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Interesting, I am born and bred Jersey. I am in favour of such qualifications. Firstly, those applying have spent considerable time on the island and more importantly they want to spend longer. Why delay them, except for the sake of landlords. Let not money be the reason, only hope for those who want to work hard to gain more of an asset. Which will allow them more security and more spending long term.
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Leaving aside the equitable rights of people who have committed 10 years to Jersey to obtain decent accommodation, a fall in house prices would be terrible for our economy – you only have to look at the effect that house price falls are having in the US and UK on consumer and business confidence. House price falls will lead to a collapse in the Jersey economy, lower earnings and those who thought they could afford the cheaper houses will find they are out of a job!
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Quote – Lula No No No Nobody wants this – we didn’t vote for you to ignore us all! Someone stop him!- end quote
Since when do you speak for the whole island?
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Anna
Judging by the above comments, if representative of island opinion, Lula appears to be speaking for the majority.
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Government interventionism almost always leads to further negative effects further down the food chain. Solving a problem today, defers a much bigger problem down the line. TLM has no concept of such theory because economics and even the thoughts of the public are something that he shouldn’t have knowledge of or pay attention to. Single mindedness such as this reminds me of the great dictators of our world. Pushing ahead with their own ideas for the sake of the greater good.
Its sad than an elective candidate has such an attitude and really does show the contempt he feels for the people who put him in that seat.
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Bambi are you saying that 16 comments are respresentative of an island that has 90000 give or take people living here? I dont think so
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Just like previous Housing Ministers Terry rents out accomadation himself so why would he want the property market to drop?
Just like a person working in property becoming Planing Minister?
Whatever we say here or on the net it does not matter. Terry quoted ‘he did not read comments on the website or blog entries’ so maybe we should be emailing him our comments instead at least showing him that we have opinions
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I already did when he first announced the 10 year wait. Did you know that even if you’re born here you have to live here for 10 years so what he’s effectively done is abolish the qualifications rule. My mother moved here to be with her partner in 1997 and we were all school here and we had to wait 14 years to get our qualifications and when we finally get them – they’re worth nothing!
In the years I’ve lived here the island has changed for the worse! There are so many houses and flats now that it’s hard to find somewhere that you can look to see miles of open countryside. Not to mention the increase in crime rate.
Abolishing the quals rule will only bring many more people over which will drain our economy even more.
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born here or not we all want cheaper accomodation and the chance to buy a affordable home.
the price of some un quallified accomodation is astounding . lets see a return to price control.
and if you want to pay £30,000 for the gardening tools and wheel barrow , more fool those who would.
a home is a place to live and die . and not a cash cow, as we all need a bit of shelter.
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It is representative of something Anna because it is relative to the number of views to the contrary.
For example, Ozouf only got 8712 votes in the last election. Do you think that is representative of everyone entitled to vote? I don’t think so. It is representative of those who bothered.
Just like here.
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My son, Jersey born with a young child working seven days a week ,paying high rent in private accommodation for a sub standard flat will never be in a position to buy his own home. Property prices must come own. No to lowering the housing qualifications.
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No Bambi but 8712 is a lot more than 16 and of those 16 not all were against the lowering so I am sorry its far far from a view of the whole island.
As for myself I am giving up on this island and I hope more like me will up and go and then we see how the island manages with the loss of tax payments and loss of people paying high rents and the loss of people who will take the jobs for minimum wage that no local people will do
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House prices need to come down and they will. Just look on all the estate agents websites, flat and houses are not selling. People are reducing their asking price and they’re still not selling. Reason being is you can’t get a silly 100%, 6 x your salary mortgage anymore, and you probably won’t be able to for a long time, if ever.
There’s only one way house prices are going – Down. At last! House prices may not crash like in the UK, but over the next year or so a 10-15% correction is probably in store.
Why try and stop this? It’s needed so your average man/woman on the street can buy.
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Rob-you are correct.I now live in England but have been getting agents to email houses to me as a member of my family was buying in Jersey.I have had the same properties emailed countless times and all being drastically reduced each time and still not selling.I also agree with Lula who says that the island has so few wide open spaces now.When I return to see family and friends I feel quite claustrophic and sad that young families have to put up with the poky places that now pass for family homes.
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To be honest I dont think lowering the qualifications will keep the prices up just remember if a local family cant afford to buy where would the non qualified family get the money from? If the qualifications did get reduced I would get them in April and there is no chance that I could buy but I would possibly be able to afford something slightly bigger than a room and possibly even have my own bathroom and not have to cook in my bedroom! But as I said earlier I am giving up and I will go somewhere I will not be treated like a second class citizen
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Property prices are artificially high.Some properties have been on the market for 4 months which means they have to lower their asking price.Their problem is some buyers cant sell either which i know has happened friends of mine.
I guess if you lower quals it will bring out more buyers to keep property value high but the market needs to drop to real value.Many people make money from rent which may be hit if more can buy.
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So, after living in Jersey for nearly 11 years, never having used the hospital or school system, however, paying tens and tens of thousands of pounds in tax and even more in rent the local population feel I haven’t served my time and shouldn’t be allowed to live here! Thanks very much, the usual comments of boats and planes leave every day if you don’t like it will surface, however, myself and many people in my position are thinking of taking our highly specialised skills elsewhere in the world. Good luck to all the small minded beans with your potato growing, holiday island status and looking after your millionaire residents. I’m done with this place and will pack my bags and head to the sunset!
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Having read someones blog whom i will leave anonymous it is my assumption that Terry does indeed read blogs or alternatively he has someone read them to him. He certainly does take notice when they concern him.
So, hello Terry hope you are enjoying reading this!!
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I do hope Terry is reading all these posts. He needs to!
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Just keep this in mind when Mr Le Main comes up for re-election.
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I believe Senator le Main is planning to stand down at the next election.
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Brilliant! All we have to do now is try to prevent him from doing too much damage in the meantime.
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Bagpacker
Who actually said you haven’t served you time and don’t deserve to live here?
I think you have missed the point.
From what I have read, everyone is saying that if the quals levels are dropped even by two years, there is a potential for the housing prices to remain high due to demand.
The current climate may be what the island needs to reduce the price of first time buyer housing. Therefore benefiting you in one and a half years when you do qualify!!
You also mention that you and many others are taking your highly specialised skills with you. Surely if they are that specialised you are eligible for a J Cat licence and can therefore buy anyway?
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Moving to Guernsey.
Have you read either the JEP or the comments written in this forum?
People complaining that I should do 20 years as they had to! Wanting a rebate on the rent they had to pay extra during that period. Moaning due to the island needing to change to accomodate the influx of new people required to keep the finance industry expanding. In my own organisation the majority of senior positions are filled by people outside of Jersey, so you feel it’s acceptable to treat them like second class citizens, then when talk of reducing housing quals is raised everyone is up in arms.
As for your point about j category, have you ever tried obtaining one? It seems that what the States of Jersey deem essential to the island are far removed from the skills an organisation requires to do business. If you’re a lawyer, doctor, nurse etc which I agree are incredibly worthy professions then you get them, if you’re not, you have to live in overpriced non-quals accomodation for the priviledge of contribuiting to the growth and welfare of the island.
It’s already too expensive for me to buy a house, however, I’d like to opportuniity to rent somewhere for an acceptable amount without worrying about being given 24 hours notice.
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Go for it Bag Packer! Get your flight booked while they are still cheap! You can take Senator le Main and his crazy ideas with you also!
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I have lived here 10 years as a J cat and about to be qualified but there is no way I would buy in Jersey it is so overpriced when compared to UK and Europe and built on one foundation ‘Finance’ look around the world, the finance industy is in steep decline and with most banks now government owned or heading that way major governments are going to put the squeeze on tax havens which will lead to a big rise in unemployment in the Finance world so I dont think Islanders need to worry to much about an extra 300 people being able to buy because most won’t or can’t. Prices will come and down and fast!
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Again what makes you local people think that us non locals have enough money to buy a house here???
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my pals rent a huge 3 bedroom house with pool and ample parking in Spain for about EUR 400, everyone is happy and the sun is always shining. Food and the cost of living in general is dirt cheap. I am locally born and bred, pay £1250 per month for rented, qualified, accommodation and earn a decent salary (for now), no kids and a partner in full time employment but we cannot afford to buy a home…not an apartment… a home. Not unless we are to pay up to £500k for a terraced 3 bedroom with a poky garden!! Why do we stay in Jersey…….I ask myself that every day.
As for those non-locals who complain that we are happy for you to be here as long as we can treat you like second class citizens, please reconsider your opinions. It is the fat-cats/rich folk of the island (many non-local businessmen) who call the shots for their own needs…and greed….and treat everyone else with contempt – us underlings are all in the same boat whether we are local or not. I for one couldn’t care less who does live in the island as long as it is realistically affordable to everyone and the population is capped.
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‘pt’ (18), has hit the nail on the head. 60 years of ‘Government interventionism almost always leads to further negative effects’, has indeed lead to a failed housing policy. What is many of the so called ‘un-qualified’ as classified as ‘essentially employed’ which enables them to purchase their house through a ‘lawyer scheme’. In doubt? Go and speak to a law firm advertising themselves as ‘property specialists’.
The chief culprit in granting ‘essentially employed’? The States of Jersey!
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Anyone who has invested 10 years in Jersey should be able to buy. Who has the right to keep them from improving there lifestyle.
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A falling property market will actually make it more difficult for people to get onto the property market in the short/medium term! Why? If mortgage lenders anticipate that the market will fall, they will require much larger deposits. eg if they anticipate a 20 percent fall they may require an 30 percent deposit rather than 10% Of course when the market has bottomed out, houses will be more affordable, but this may take several years. Terry is doing the right thing in trying to keep the property market stable.If the Jersey consumer behaves in the same way as UK consumers, a falling market would result in mass unemployment not only in the building trades, but in retail and leisure sectors.
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The views of a lot of people on this site are quite disturbing, a lot of you are saying ‘NO’ to equal rights for inhabitants of this Island!!!
In my time in Jersey it became obvious that complaining and not doing anything about it is almost a national pastime for ‘locals’. Whilst I understand everybody’s right to an opinion I found it hard to understand how people who had so much could feel so hard done by.
If the finance industry does leave and takes its ‘immigrant’ workforce with it, the ‘locals’ of Jersey will be hard-pressed to maintain full employment or even 50% employment. However if this exodus does happen then there will be ample amount of housing for the ‘locals’ This will lead to a massive reduction in house prices and put many of the ‘locals’ who have been successful enough to buy their own home into negative equity. Businesses will close and unemployment will rise, St Helier will look like a ghost town and the standard of living will drop considerably. There is no longer much of a tourism industry or farming industry and a lot of locals with considerable financial skills and experience will be unemployed and find it hard to feed their families. This will put a massive strain on state resources and a lot of ‘local’ people who consider Jersey a ‘paradise’ may change their minds and might follow the ‘immigrants’ in search of a better life for them and their families.
I wonder how these ‘locals’ would feel about facing a 12 year ‘qualies’ period in their chosen country. Would it be fair to them and their families to be made to rent overpriced substandard accommodation? Would it be fair to them to have to pay the same taxes as their neighbour and not have the same rights? Surely it would be terrible for Jersey people to face such discrimination when all they want is a better life for themselves and their families.
Thankfully this would not happen in the majority developed and civilised countries.
Jersey did ok before finance, but the world has changed and I doubt very much if it would remain a nice place after finance and the loss of its offshore status.
Be careful what you wish for……..
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The why it is going, why have any housing qualifications at all?
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Well done Mr Le Main ten years is much fairer and gives hope to people to work hard and perhaps realise their dreams of owning their own home.
So many people would like to see people kept down as second and third class citizen’s and used like dogs shame on you.
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No housing qualifications = at million or more people in the UK with paid for homes in London or the South of England could easily buy up and live in all the available property. They would pay less tax than the UK and their estates would not be liable to Inheritance Tax. Property prices would rocket. Most of these people would be older so the age profile of the popultion would rise.
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As someone who has just moved here, I don’t believe the qualifications period should drop unless it does end up benefitting those that were born and raised here. It is their island, and those that were elected should stop turning their backs on these people as it is clear to me they do on a regular basis. From the comments above it looks like dropping the qually period won’t help locals so why bother. Oh, would it help rich incomers possibly?
My only slight annoyance is that anyone from Jersey could so easily move to where I was born and raised, but I can’t do the vice versa, but that situation should have been sorted out decades ago… maybe the UK need to introduce residential qualifications. In fact, that sounds like a brilliant idea.
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The reason why properties are so expensive partly the cost of the land, but mainly the domination by a certain building company. Effectivly a house doesnt cost that much to complete, at the moment there is a large base of imported skill to build them and most of them are on cheap wages. If you look at houses built elsewhere in the UK with the same materials, costs range from £60 000- £100 000. but when the company sells these properties here why make only 10 or 15% profit when they can make 80 or 90% profit.
All that happens after that is people look at the quality or size of the property and then figure they can get the same amount or more ore less the value of the new property and the prices just go up and up.
On the other hand property developers purchase properties throw a few quid to sort it out and then up the value, thus the little guy who could afford to purchase the property and do it up as time and money become available have now lost out.
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I am frankly appalled by what is proposed, reducing the number of residential years to be eligible to become a home owner is ridiculous. This, as intended, will likely increase property value, soaring figures further into dangerous territory where negative equity becomes increasingly likely. House prices in Jersey are enough to send graduates like myself and other younger islanders away from Jersey, where the potential for becoming a home owner is a reality. Jersey has sadly become a hostile place for the younger generation, where the island is more interested in money than that of its own people.
I write in the hope he realises the impact this will have on the wider generation, and future implications this is likely to induce.
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