£100m for housing estates
Friday 13th February 2009, 3:00PM GMT.
MORE than £100 million will be spent repairing run-down housing estates because they have been neglected for so long.
A massive five-year refurbishment programme is under way and it is currently costing up to £80,000 a property to repair some homes.
This week Housing Minister Terry Le Main and members of his department showed the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel around the Island’s estates.
Speaking to the JEP at Clos de Roncier, panel chairman Senator Alan Breckon said that the refurbishment programme was long overdue. ‘The States have ignored their housing stock and they haven’t maintained them,’ he said.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
JEP Jubilee Editions
Saturday 2 June: Guide to Celebrations
Wednesday 6 June: Souvenir of Events
View The Queen in Jersey supplement
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
Lets hope that the tenants of these newly renovated properties treat them with respect.
Report abuse
How the other half live! Painting & decorating done free of charge and reduced rent and heating. Does not pay to own your own home these days better to live off States income.
Report abuse
The people who get these homes never look after them properly! I had to replace most of the roof on my house which cost me 9 grand. The estate at the top of the hill past rue des pres got all their new roofs for nothing!
Report abuse
The last two comments are focused on decoration….. What about the lucky States Tenants that live with dampness and rot . Single glazed windows which when broken are glued together because the parts are not manufactured any more. Dog mess from non-tenants who allow their dogs to use the estates as a toilet and lets not forget the anti-social behavior made by the next door drunk or druggy. How lucky are we! I am not in the position to live in the private sectors and I am grateful to have a roof over my head (by the way I do work and pay rent). But the comments that that “Lets hope that the tenants of these newly renovated properties treat them with respect” and “How the other half live” I believe is to be very narrow mined and says more about those persons lack consideration to those that be not as fortunate as themselves .
Report abuse
What! How the other half live?!?! Do you realise that most of the housing tenants are on low incomes and will never be able to afford their own homes and those that are on a reasonable income are paying full rent so no subsidies there. It is not better off to live in a states house as many of them are totally run down (i.e. no double glazing). These people have been paying rent to the housing department who are their landlords so why shouldn’t they expect housing to maintain the property after all the property does belong to housing. Oh and no I do not live in States Housing accommodation.
Report abuse
States housing stock has been sorely neglected for years now and its high time properties were renovated and brought up to date,after all the people who occupy these homes are mosltly those families that will never be able to afford to buy.
From experience I can say that the vast majority of residents do look after their homes and take pride in them. Its only a minority who do not.
Report abuse
Delighted to hear this, it will improve the quality of life for states tenants and provide much needed work for our local tradesmen – it’s a win win situation.
I can honestly say that compared to social housing in the UK, most states tenants have jobs and are responsible people unlike the 2nd generation unemployed inhabiting most council estates in the UK.
I worked on Grasett Park when it was refurbished and aside from the joke name the lads gave it “Jusassic Park” the end result was very impressive social housing.
Report abuse
Why does this need to be done on tax payers money once again!!
Yes once again the tax payers money, those who have to pay for their own re-decoration and repairs. No states hands out there.
The little rent they do pay where does this go?
Does it not pay sufficient income to up-keep the states properties?
Why can’t housing tenants pay a monthly contribution towards commnunal re-decoration and pay for their own interior re-decoration like other people have to who live in a block of flats for instance.
I can understand structural repairs being paid for by the states (hopefully being paid from rental received not tax payers money) but not re-decoration.
I would like to know how the rental income received is spent and see a break down of how £100 million is being spent on repairs.
So come on states members show us your figures, after all it is our money.
Report abuse
“as many of them are totally run down (i.e. no double glazing)”
Shock horror! I would hardly say that was totally run down just because they lack double glazing.
And some of these people do not treat their houses with respect.
Report abuse
Errr. where did this cash appear from?
Report abuse
I agree with Betty and furthermore this work is long overdue.
One reason it’s taken so long is the “Thatcher” mentality of our government. Barring 3-4 states members, the rest are all staunch conservatives, or they would be if they could vote in the UK. We all know how the residents of “social housing” have been treated by the conseratives over the years. With contempt… and I repeat the work is long overdue and will increase the value of the housing portfolio for the Island.
Report abuse
The states have always had this massive amount of money, they call it the ‘Rainy day fund’and its about time it went to good use!
i am pleased with the choise of states and it will make many sufforing residents very happy.
hope this helps
Report abuse
as a states tenant myself and family have benefited from the long overdue refubishment.
before the revision of income support, all rents paid by states tenants went to the housing department who also paid out for the rent rebate system, by the time the monies had been paid out to the landlords there was about £3.50 left for each hose /flat of the states housing stock.
this no longer happens,so they now have some money to maintain housing stock.
ask any states tenant they would love to own their own home but despite working cannot afford it.
many states tenants keep their homes in good order, hold jobs and contribute to the island.
it is a minority who smash the place to bits.
we are not all drunks, drug addicts, robbers.
these can be found in the private sector too.
there are some posts on here who would have me living in a tent or caravan, which is not allowed, at least it would be my own tent or caravan.
Report abuse
Surely money better spent on this and the roads, than on a huge office development that no one but the States seems to want. Housing can be filled easier than offices, even before allowing another 20,000 thousand or so people into the Island.
Report abuse
For those of you who say ‘oh how the other half live’ i invite you to come and live in ym flat
its on the top floor of a tower block. the ceiling is coming down in the lounge because they refuse to fix the problem as its ‘being renovated next year’ which we’ve been told every year
We decorate inside ourselves.
We have to live with total delinquints on floors below that we cant do anyhting about who play loud music, break the lifts and generally are a nuisance.
I would love to own my own home but funnily enough even if me and my partner worked full time and saved every penny thats not going to happen.
So i currently live in a flat i have to fight tooth and nail to get repaired and its taken 3 weeks to even send someone out
So before you sit down and say’ oh how the other half lives, everything paid for them etc’ Think about those of us who do pay our own way and are only getting what we would in private rental.
Report abuse
Yes, very well said Sarah!!
Report abuse
I think this is great news there are a lot of local people who cannot afford the extortionate high rents and with the recession and future loss of jobs this development could be a life-saver for many Jersey people. It can take people years to get a place with the States because there is just not enough supply to support demand.
Report abuse
I am a states tenant and my rent is the same as if I lived in the private sector. I work part time as i’m a parent and pay full rent to the housing department…
Living on a housing estate does not mean you are a second class citizen and should be treated any differently.
The states housing department are my landlords and as such should make sure that living conditions are at a good standard. The states are responsible for the upkeep of the exterior of homes and haven’t done this! Why were certain housing estates left to get in such a state?? States tenants pay their rent and deserve good quality homes!
Report abuse
Betty – the majority of private house owners are paying a mortgage to a bank so in actual fact the bank owns their house until the mortgage is paid off. Also they have to pay all their own repairs and decorating and the bank does not help to pay towards the tradesmen.
Report abuse
I cannot believe some of the uncharitable remarks I am seeing lately in Jersey. Housing tenants pay rent, they often also have to put up with sub-standard accommodation, poor infrastucture and the Housing Department. I would invite anyone in their ivory tower to swap places with a States tenant for a couple of months to see “how the other half lives”.
Most States tenants also look after the property as if it were their own. I personally am grateful for the opportunity to have a States home when I grew up in Jersey, even if it was freezing in the winter, we always looked after it and my father always won prizes for the garden competition. It was a home. Some of you seem to fail in grasping the importance of this.
Darren
Report abuse
Sarah – why do you put up with delinquent neighbours, surely Mr Le Main should be dealing with those, no amount of painting & decorating will improve those people.
Report abuse
Ann that is your choice to own your own home.
we take care of our flat as if it were our own but we are not on an income that would allow us to buy, otherwise we would and let someone else have this states flat.
if you like, you try ringing the housing department and getting something done, because i can guarantee that you would have more fun doing that than you would dealing with a tradesman!
Report abuse
Sarah – the way things are going, I might sell up and take your states flat would be a wise move.
Report abuse
It should be obvious to anybody that there are good States tenants and bad States tenants-and some extremely bad ones at that.Those are the people who (after being given reasonable notice and time to adjust their behaviour and morals)should be removed from such housing for the benefit of the decent people who have to live alongside them.I am sure the majority of States tenants are law abiding,decent people but sadly the minority lead to them all being tarred with the same brush hence some of the comments here so far.
Report abuse
We have to put up with our neighbours because unlike private rental where the estate agents or landlords can just kick them out, housing just move them out to somewhere else and someone else the same moves in.
i have a housing man coming today to see what they intend to do about my disintergrating ceiling. No doubt it will be patch it up and wait to be renovated because they dont have the money to fix it…
Report abuse
i’ve only read a few of these comments but I am horrified! Unfortunately as I haven’t had any offspring I’m not entitled to states housing – I have to make do in the private sector spending over 3/4 of my income on a 1 bedroom flat that also has no heating, no double glazing and a really small kitchen. It also has cracks in the building and all this is A-H!!!
quit your whining and thank your lucky stars the states gave you a choice – and thank the people who support you and your kids that you can’t support yourself…
“Save Britain – don’t have children you can’t afford”
Report abuse
And before I get a load of comments this is only applicable to those people who have kids to get a free ride and then invite all their friends round, play loud music and let their children go screaming for attention(a small minority i admit but they are out there and they almost brag about getting a free ticket!)
I have 4 friends living in states accomidation as when their partners left them (either for another woman/man or died) they were left as single parents – It seems the states care a lot less for these people struggling to earn money and pay for childcare than they care about those who have never had any intention of working (these people are usually the “bad tenants”) I have nothing but respect and sympathy for those living in states accomodation because of external circumstances – however the majority of us don’t get a free ride so why should Little Miss Teenage pregnancy?
My sister was at school with someone who was trying to get pregnant at 15 as she didn’t want to live with her parents anymore… Well done States of Jersey – making life easier for the lazy!!
Report abuse
Sarah – dont worry there’s 100 million in the pot to fix your ceiling according to Mr Le Main.
Report abuse
There are good and bad tenants outside of the States Housing too! I don’t know why people try to categorize states tenants as hooligans or something it’s crazy! I live on an estate where people take great pride of their homes and there’s never any trouble. People that work hard to support their families earning average incomes which do not reach the threshold of being able to afford a mortgage pay what’s called a fair rent which is calculated according to what they earn and the system of charging rent follows a fair principle. I’d like to buy my states house one day and I do not consider myself a second class citizen for living in states accommodation either!
Report abuse
I cannot belive some of the comments on this page, referring to ”states tenants’ as second class citizens!! I have been in states accomodation for 2 years now and i have a lovely house which i have decorated myself and done alot of work inside and outside in the garden. I understand that some people in states housing dont take pride in themselves or there homes but we are not all like that. I work part time and my partner works full time so that we can support and pay our own way, yes we may live in social housing but we are still paying £1000 plus per month to live in it!!! I really cant stand people who look down there noses at ”people like us”
Report abuse
Vikki I think it’s mainly to do with the fact that some people living in states housing can afford nice TVs, have 2 cars outside, have all the latest gadgets – while others who have been refused states housing because they earn too much or do not have children or a disability have to struggle to pay for their TV licence and electricity!
I personally get really angry when i see that someone living in states housing has a 60inch hi def tv and a nice car outside – i mean how could they afford it if they can’t afford to live in the private sector? And what about those that don’t have kids? I’m sorry but if you can’t afford to raise your own children you shouldn’t be having them in the first place.
Report abuse
ann(21) housing have an obligation to house them i think.
and the lack of funding for over stretched social services may have something to do with it.
also if any states tenants do not have a area housing association, meet up with some other like minded tenants of your area and form one, phone housing and ask about tenant participation.
Report abuse
ann – don’t you think that if everyone could afford to buy their own house they would. I’m so happy that you are in the fortunate position of owning your own home (or is it the bank that’s owns yours!!) Still at the end of the day you have something that will belong to you and your family something that most states tenants can only dream off.
The bottom line is that if people pay rent for a property regardless of where they live the property should be kept in decent repair. You seem to be forgetting that Housing do not “decorate” these properties, tenants do. They are according to the tenants lease to keep said property wind and water tight and in good repair.
If you read the article it says that some properties are to cost up to 80k well has anyone thought that this might be one of their stand alone properties which has remained vacant for years to rot. Why are you assuming that the repairs are due to people not caring for their properties on housing estates. Oh and by the way, if those tenants are paying full rent they will most probably be paying tax so they are the tax payers.
Report abuse
Lula have you ever heard of HP or credit cards? All that will stop now due to the credit crunch
We are in states housing because we have a child. We are in states housing because we cant afford to privatly rent, the flat we lived in when we did privatly rent was disgusting, full of mould no matter what we did, there was mould that was growing above my daughters cot!
it is always a case of the few spoil it for the many. But my tv license is the same price as yours as is my electricity. the only difference i pay is the rent.
I dont quite know where you get the idea that we don’t pay for anything as we do pay for bills etc. As i say the only thing subsidised is rent or paid if on income support.
Report abuse
why don’t the states run a lottery to give a lucky islander a days interest earned on the £100 000 000 for every day of the year – it’s our money and they wouldn’t even have to spend a penny!!
Report abuse
Well said betty!
Report abuse
LULA comment31, i own a 50inch HD television and i have a nice car and my partner also owns a car, just because people live in states housing dosnt mean they cannot afford to have these things, yes i used to live in the private sector but due to circumsstances i was housed by the states. I still have to pay bills like everyone else and like i said before im still paying £1000 plus a month to live in my ”states” house. We both go to work so we can afford to have nice things and give our children, not everyone who lives in states housing dosent work and we provide for our children ourselves we dont get handouts from no one!!
Report abuse
States Tenants over the years when no refurbishment has taken place have paid a lot more than £100million in rent. The problem the Housing Dept had was that up to 80% of this income from rent was paid out to private landlords in the form of rent rebate which meant little money for upkeep of the housing stock.
This has meant that many of the houses are now classed as sub-standard and the States have a duty to refurbish them or to knock them down and rebuild.
So the reality is we should be angry at the States for allowing the private landlords to charge excessive rents knowing the rent rebate system (the money that should be used for the upkeep of States housing) would allow tenants to pay the inflated prices.
On a wider picture, the rent rebate system created a boom in the buy-to-let market where landlords knew they could charge high rents so were able to have large mortgages covered by the rent which lead to inflating the price of properties.
Fortunately come October this year (unless the States back-track again) the rent rebate system will be scrapped and we are likely to see private rents having to start to fall.
The Housing Department now gets all the rent from their tenants and so this situation “should” never occur again. And any excess made from the rents will be put into building more States houses so giving more people the opportunity to have one – fingers crossed!!!
Report abuse
I’m sorry but i live in a private house and pay much more rent than those living in states housing – you forget that at least the states look after you – we have to fend for ourselves unless we have children – no rent rebate anymore – just the useless income support that seem to give people who have never worked a day in their lives more money than people who are struggling to survive!
If something is faulty in a states house – they call housing and they fix it – just like our landlords do (if you’re lucky)
Maybe they should have some sort of system that if you’re working you get work done on your house provided by the states – a budget of some kind that reflects what you contribute to society. If you’re not working and just sponging because you can then the states shouldn’t provide any additional help – maybe this will give those single mothers a kick up the backside to stop watching jeremy kyle and start putting money away.
An interesting fact for you all – three friends do deliveries for lotus house, robin hood and 4 seasons and they all say that their busiest locations are housing estates…sometimes delivering to the same house 5 times a week…
i wish i could afford take away once a week let alone 5 times!
Report abuse
Just because we live in housing property does that mean we have to live in run down property, in our flat the carpet lifts off the floor when the wind blows strongly when the windows are closed, I wish I could own my own property but unlike some people I do not earn enough money to buy a house. In Jersey if you are rich you are well off but the lower class like myself are poor
Report abuse
paul(38) interesting comments, doall people under the rent rebate system in the private sector know it going to be axed??
Report abuse
Chris – If your carpet lifts off the floor when the wind blows strongly may I suggest you get it fixed. If my carpet lifted the States won’t be paying to get it repaired. I have to pay for it myself.
So why should my tax money be paying for your carpet repairs?
I can understand the housing department needing to up-keep property structually but not fixing carpets.
Report abuse
Vikki (37).
Don’t you think that if you can afford to pay £1,000.00+ a month rent and own and run two cars and still afford luxuries like a 50inch HD TV that perhaps you and your partner should high-tail it back to the private sector and free up the states accommodation for someone less well off and obviously more in need of it than you are?
Report abuse
Lula, you seem to have real issues with single mothers and the like. Not all people who live in housing estates are single mothers who sit and watch jeremy kyle, and im sure these”single mothers ” are not single by choice. Do you actually realise how expensive it is to put your child in nursey thats why these mothers stay at home, to raise there children as they cannott afford to pay the nursey fees.
And it is the landlords responsibility to undertake any repairs on the property regardless if your renting from the states or the private sector, internal decoration and looking after gardens, etc is the tenants responsibility, the states just keep the property in a good state of repair. And if your working then you are contributing to society, like i am.!!!
Report abuse
I’m hardly rich – i don’t own my own house and I pay roughly double what i’d pay the states if they gave me a two bedroom flat… GOOD for you vikki – you pay the states the same rent for a house with parking that i do for a one bedroom flat!
Report abuse
Diane (42)
I would hardly class myself as ”well off” just because i own a car and televisoin both of which were bought long before i was housed by the states.
Report abuse
I know exactly how much is costs to put kids through nursery as i have a 4 year old baby brother – however if you are on the ball you can get free placements providing you enroll your child early enough.
I have serious issues with my tax money being spent on lazy individuals – as well as my tax money being spent on people who can obviously afford to live in the private sector but don’t because they can get an easier ride from the states because they have children.
Report abuse
Paul #38.Cant agree more with you.
Report abuse
Why on earth doesnt someone from the Housing Department drive around these estates and take some assessments in order to distinguish between those who really need States housing and those who obviously do not.
Report abuse
Lula you are very bitter. can i ask how old you are?
Plus where are these elusive free places if you enroll your child early enough as i have yet to see one.
I found out today that elderly couples are being put into two bedroom flats. This means that for people who desperatly need them they cant get them because an elderly couple who could live in a one bedroom (of which there are many) are being put in 2 bedroom just so they are housed. This means there is less housing for those that need them
I lived in private rental. i had an estate agents that didnt care if things were done or not, a flat that was full of mold and falling to pieces and for that delight we paid £760 a month. the lowest end of the market.
Now we live in a states flat that we still pay rent to the states for. This is a flat that needs desperatly to be refurbished and is being done so in 12 months. The states are a landlord like all the rest and still have to keep a standard of living, same as private landlords. It is their own faults that the bill has come in like this. We pay our taxes and social security the same that you do, so why can’t we have work done on our flats and homes the same as everyone else?
Report abuse
This has certainly brought some of the Jersey bigots out of the woodwork. Frightening the attitude many people have! Should be ashamed of themselves.The stereotyping is amazing.Lula really needs to get a heart and maybe learn the impact of making such vast generalisations. Maybe she would suggest bringing back the workhouse for anyone who can’t afford private housing? The lack of compassion is so depressing. Whatever your views it should be a basic human right to have access to good accommodation, regardless of wealth. If Jersey got rid of all the States housing it would soon find that many of its public services had no workers. I was brought up in a States house, and at that time the condition certainly was not good: cold, damp, no heating, windows that allowed the rain to come streaming down the walls. These conditions are not acceptable in the 21 century. I imagine that many States tenants have paid for their house many times through rent, and would have loved the opportunity to have had ‘right to buy’ as in England. Also, whatever your views children deserve to live in a warm and well maintained home, whatever you think of their parents. Afterall they did not ask to be born, but we neeed to give every individual the same opportunties to meet their full potential as anyone else, whether you are born and brought up in a States house or fortunate enough to be born into a family who have their own home. I really think this discussion shoudl stop and people should hold their head in shame over their attitudes. Lula, why don’t you go and do a bit of voluntary work and you might understand a bit better the nature of social problems, and stop being so bitter and self centred!
Report abuse
I think that this is a great way for The States to stimulate the local economy and raise the level of standard in its housing stock.
In fact I think that they should go further and consider buying more houses that are for sale by their owners, Do them up and rent or sell them on again. This should keep the economy moving and help the shops and tradesmen to earn enough to pay more tax!
Report abuse
I do work in charity shops whenever they need help actually and do a lot of work for the NSPCC – and I’m 22.
I left home at 15 and went to work after finishing my exams early at school – mainly due to there being no room at my mums house.
I refer to the article
“because they have been neglected for so long.”
This led me to the assumption that this 100m is being spent on work to make the houses more aestehtically pleasing because the tenants obviously didn’t care (and why should they – they can treat their house however they want – they’ll just be moved when they kick up enough fuss). I apologise if my asumption is wrong however, whenever my friends have had a problem such as a broken window or heating going off the states housing dept have come down within 2 days to fix it. Are you saying the states don’t provide this service to everyone? Sorry if i’m commenting without knowing the full facts as i’ve never had the opportunity to live in a states flat let alone have my rent subsidised
As for nursery places – my baby brother’s nursey place was free at St John’s – look into it as free nursey places are out there providing you get there early enough (usually register when your child is a few months old rather than a few months before they need to go to school).
I pay just under a grand for my flat- which is damp, full of mould and really cold. The states don’t help me at all because according to them the average rent for a one bedroom house is £450 a month!! I am a little bitter yes! As i’m paying 20% tax and 6% social security to an island that only gives you help if you have a child or have an illness. The middle earners have to pay for everyone else and it’s not fair. When my partner became unable to work the states still wouldn’t house us saying if you had a child we could – i mean what?! This island is overpopulated as is! The only way we’re entitled to help is if we make this problem worse? That doesn’t make any sense!!
Report abuse
due to circumstances beyond my control i live in a states flat im a single mum now (but i was married) with a mortage so does that make me second class????
I work nearly full time and i pay nearly full rent i pay my own utility bills im i shouting about it i just get on with it im pleased i have a roof over my head so all those people who think im second class i think they need to wake up and smell the coffee they have no idea what it is like and how to manage and balance life in general!
Report abuse
Lula, your right about the free nursey places for when your children are 3, but before then you have to pay for them, and for some people this is not worth it by the time thay get there salary they are paying it out in nursery fees. Also why have children and then put them into nursery when they are babies, i know everyones view is diffrent but my mum was home with all her children untill we started school. I did the same i stayed at home untill my kids were 3 and eligible for a free states nursery place my partner went out to work to provide for his family and then i returned to work once they were both in nursery/school.
Report abuse
the point i’m trying to make is you can plan pregnancy – don’t have children you can’t afford to look after on your own.
I have no issues with people who planned their children and look after properly and fund them themselves nor do i have issues with single mothers who through no circumstances of their own (i.e. their long term partner left) and had to depend on the states for help. My issues are with people who have children in order to get a house from the states.
I’m sorry but if you are on benefits and child support then you should stop having children – not continue to spawn a child every time one can start school – some of the people in these housing estates have 6 children or more! Why do the states support these people!?
I have nothing but sympathy for women who become single mothers through no fault of their own- my mother was a single mother but she was never offered housing as she could afford to pay privately so we went through life without luxeries such as a tv, new clothes and a car- i watched my mum starve herself to put food on our tables because the states were too busy helping out people who had 8 kids or more lol
So yes I am a little bitter – but as with my 4×4 argument – i am only basing my opinions on my own experiences.
Report abuse
Maybe Lula you need to think yourself lucky. If you lived in England you would pay much higher levels of tax, have a lower quality of life and be much more likely to be unemployed. Plus pay higher council tax, car tax etc etc. Basing your opinions on your own experience can be dangerous as you don’t seem to understand the other side of the argument. Maybe life in Jersey is not perfect, but it could be a whole lot worse. Expecting some one who lives in a States house to be living in almost absolute poverty is a bit unrealistic in the 21st century. Just beacuse you have a TV, holiday and a car does not mean you are not entitled to social housing. Perhaps people living in a States house in Jersey are slightly better off than those living ina Council house in England, but that just represents the generally higher quality of life in Jersey than in England. And all this about planning pregnancy, you seem to forget that whatever the circumstances the child still deserves the best start in life whatever their circumstances. It’s strange how some people who seem to have had a hard start in life seem to resent other people having slightly better opportunties, when really we should be thankful that others have not suffered like you have. Two wrongs don’t make a right. However, I think your gripe if the social policies of the States! The benefits system in Jersey is the only thing similar to England, but a Dikensian England not a 21st century England. If Jersey got a bit more tax off all these millionaires and tax evaders maybe the system for all could be better and more people with housing needs in Jersey could be helped, regardless of the number of children they have.
Report abuse