STATES houses are being left empty by Housing, according to those threatened with eviction notices from the department. Jackie McMillan, who lives with her husband, Harry, and two of their children aged 25 and 19 on Clairval Estate, St Peter Port, said that a number of homes in others were unoccupied.
‘There’s been a house on this estate that has been empty since before Christmas,’ said Mrs McMillan, 46.
‘In one St Martin’s estate there’s as many four houses that have been left empty for ages.
‘If Housing are so desperate for us to leave our homes to create space for other people, then why are they leaving other properties empty?
‘Deputy Dave Jones is determined to get rid of States house properties. There will come a stage where all you are left with is rent-and-buy properties.’
Like a number of other States tenants, the McMillans, have been sent a notice informing them that they had just four months to vacate their premises.
Mr McMillan, who works on shift at Guernsey Electricity, is the sole earner in the house and is earning above the £442 weekly limit a week that a couple without dependant children is allowed in order to qualify for a States home.
‘I feel my rights have been impinged upon. I’m seeing a lawyer on Thursday,’ said the 50-year-old.
‘Getting kicked out of your house because, by their standards, you’re earning too much is ludicrous.’
The family have lived at Clairval for 20 years.
Mrs McMillan does not work as she looks after the twins of their daughter, who has left home and bought her own house.
‘I don’t want to see my daughter kicked out of her place because she can’t pay for it. It takes two people to pay for a mortgage these days so she couldn’t afford to give up her job.’
The McMillans have joined the Guernsey Housing Association list, which lets homes to people with a joint income of less than £700 per week, but it has a two-year waiting list. She criticised the Housing Department’s handling of the matter.
‘It was underhanded and there was no warning.
‘Also, on the same day we got the eviction notice from Housing, we got another letter from them telling us our rent had gone up.’
Mr McMillan added: ‘I’ve even had it put to me by someone to go to my manager at work and ask him to pay me less.
‘It’s ridiculous I’ve worked 34 years to get where I am. What’s going to happen at the end of the four months? Deputy Jones has said no one will be turned out into the street.
‘How’s he going to address it?’
Article posted on 14th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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