ENVIRONMENTAL health officers have been unable to close down properties which are unfit to live in because of the island’s housing shortage. The problem was highlighted in the States by Health and Social Services minister Peter Roffey.
Environmental Health has confirmed this.
‘If the premises represent a demonstrated risk to the person’s health or there is the potential for an accident, they will usually be closed irrespective of the circumstances of the tenant,’ said a spokesman.
But these cases would be only a very small proportion of housing complaints. The department issues an average of only two closure notices a year.
A spokesman said a difficulty arose because the tenant often fell outside the type of people re-housed by the Housing Department, particularly young single people or middle-aged couples with no children.
The other problem was if there was no suitable accommodation at a rent that the tenant could afford.
In these cases, efforts are made to ensure that at least temporary upgrading of the premises takes place, said the spokesman.
An undertaking is also sought from the landlord not to re-let once the place becomes vacant until upgrading has been carried out.
Environmental Health sees only a very small proportion of rented properties each year, about 1%, according to the recently published Parr report.
Housing minister Dave Jones accepted that the environmental health officers had shown great restraint and pledged that tackling the issues raised would be one of his department’s priorities.
‘The way it can be tackled in the first instance is to provide far more social rental properties to give people real choice,’ he said.
‘The private rental sector is hugely important to Guernsey but we do need some minimum standards and as more housing comes on stream, Environmental Health will probably take a much tougher line than it has in the past,’ said Deputy Jones.
Deputy Roffey told the States of the exploitation of some of the weaker members of the population and the shortage of housing causing ‘enormous’ problems for Environmental Health.
He said officers had been extremely uncomfortable because they should have closed far more accommodation than they had, but were in an extremely difficult situation.
‘There is nowhere for these people to go. Environmental Health is suffering from the lack of provision and that cannot continue. If somewhere is not fit to live in, it’s not fit to live in,’ said Deputy Roffey.
He confirmed that revision of the Environmental Health Law was being considered.
Areas such as lodging houses should be regulated and there was far too much overcrowded accommodation in the island, he said.
‘Some people are living in standards that should not be acceptable for this society. It’s not acceptable in the 21st century,’ he told the States.
Article posted on 9th August, 2004 - 12.00am
Loading ...
Most Commented: