Former States houses at Petit Bouet sold for more than £2.4m., which will go into the Corporate Housing Programme. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0899936)
MORE than £2.4m. has been raised for social housing from the sale of 10 former States houses on the Petit Bouet Estate.
Last year, 16 properties were put on the market, ranging in price from £225,000 to £265,000.
By the end of 2009, 10 had been sold. Five are under offer.
Housing minister Dave Jones was pleased with the amount of money raised.
‘I think selling these homes was a sensible decision and they have raised a substantial amount of money, despite the current state of the property market,’ he said.
The money will go towards the Corporate Housing Programme, which helps fund the development of new social housing by the Guernsey Housing Association.
Deputy Jones said the department was unlikely to sell any more of its properties.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
Article posted on 15th January, 2010 - 2.29pm
16 Article Comments
Where are they gonna build more houses? The island’s getting fuller! I like the idea of selling cheap houses to first-timers, but I dislike the idea of more States houses, these people need to get out and work!
Report abuse
Why not blow the market open like Alderney rather than spend whats left in the coffers?
Report abuse
Andy Alderney are going down the same road as us and have just agreed in their States to form the Alderney Housing association.
Report abuse
GG
There are several brown field sites left, together with the “Housing Target areas” identified by the States several years ago. I agree that our population MUST be properly managed and the demand for housing kept to manageable levels.
Report abuse
GG
Many States Housing tenants DO work. Unfortunately there are far too many who don’t.
Dave Jones
Can you tell us why those States tenants who get away with not working are put into newly refurbished and carpeted properties? They have money for all the latest gadgets and fashions so should they not be made to cough up for what’s needed in their homes like the rest of us?
It seems to me that those of us who have worked hard all these years did things the wrong way. Why do the States move the people who have always earned, and paid their rent on time, into sub standard accomodation which has barely seen a fresh lick of paint. The majority of those being moved off the Bouet are put into shiny ‘new’ homes all nicely decorated, carpeted and with brand new fitted kitchens and bathrooms.
Should this not be a standard requirement for all States tenants? You’ve got £2.4 million now so start spending it in the right places. Older tenants should not be brushed aside.
Report abuse
Dave Jones
There are also lots of eyesore derelict greenhouse sites as well which remain huge blots on our landscape and would (in most cases) be improved with appropriate housing developments.
I can’t surely be the only person who finds it hard to correlate the absurdity of a landowner being prosecuted for going 40cm too high, when compared with rat-infested greenhouses with noxious weeds growing out the roof. I know which I find the most unattractive to look at. About time Environment got their priorities right.
I’m not in favour of landowners making large windfall profits as a reward for letting their greenhouses get into such an appalling state, but a set price should be set for allowing houses to be built on some appropriate sites, which might be a premium over the horticultural land value but a big discount to housing land value. Result – affordable plots for those who need it, and no big windfall profits for the landowner.
Report abuse
David
Cheesed off
Firstly the States Housing Department do not supply carpets to tenants. All new properties that are handed over by the GHA come with the floor coverings laid by the builders, nothing more.
People whose homes have been demolished and who are still eligible for social housing are moved into new developments, that is the whole point of replacing old tired properties with new homes. You would need to give me an example of this substandard accommodation. As for older tenants the GHA is constructing many new homes for older tenants Victoria Ave and Mont Arrive are just two sites at present before that the ground floor apartments of the old bus garage site were for older tenants and disabled tenants and the whole of the Roseair avenue sit was given over to sheltered housing. So your advice to us to do more for older people is a little out dated.
David
There are many in the island who disagree and who do not want to see housing spring up in traditionally what were horticultural areas, many of these derelict green house sites have already been put back to green fields. Building on these sites would only result in many rural areas becoming over developed and with narrow road systems unable to cope. I am not going to be drawn on the rights or wrongs of a development case that the courts have taken a judgment on.
Report abuse
Dave Jones
I must thank you for taking the time and trouble to reply. A Deputy that CAN be bothered.
However, I’m talking about States Housing properties – not GHA properties and yes there are States housing tenants who have had carpets paid for be it by the States Insurance via a grant they are still being paid for by the States.
You may be of the opinion that my thoughts are outdated.I can assure you that there is one particular States Housing property that I have first hand experience of which has recently been let to a transferred tenant. This is an older person who is still working and paying rent.
The property in question was in a filthy condition with thick grease covering the kitchen at the time of moving, it was also in a poor state of repair. There is also damp which is ruining possessions. And this is not sub-standard??? Why was this person told to leave their previous property spotlessly clean and then be expected to move onto filth? I would, of course, have to obtain this person’s permission to disclose thier details and this would be done privately to protect privacy.
Report abuse
Cheesed Off
I think you answered your own question about the carpets. It is Social Security that have provided the money for the carpets, to people who are probably on Supplementary Benefit or very low incomes. It was not the Housing department. Where and how Soc Sec choose to spend their money is no business of Housing and vice versa.
Report abuse
States Housing DO pay for the maintenance of proerties though don’t they? My point is that why is the maintenance pf properties for older people less of a priority.
I didn’t actually say that Housing pay for teh carpets but I think you’ll find that the departments do work more closely together than you think otherwise how are the carpets in place BEFORE tenants move in…..
Report abuse
Cheesed Off
Of course housing maintain their properties and this is done on an estate basis working to a programme that has been planned and costed, not on the age of the tenants, Auntie GP is absolutely right about grants from Social Security and we do pass on information in cases of hardship.
Report abuse
Cheesed off
You would have to contact me with the details of the case you refer too as I have no knowledge of any complaints from a tenant along theses lines. However I will check with our maintenance department, I would be grateful in order to help the enquiry, if you could e-mail me some more detail. I try my best to answer the questions that are put to me and I thank you for your recognition, although some on this site tell me I spend to much time on here, actually in the course of a 24 hour day it is very little.
Report abuse
Well – i think the suggestion of ageism in the housing department is a little unfair – bearing in mind that they house a lot of older people – im sure that your recent incident was an over sight – in my experience the properties are generally nicely maintained and decorated prior to someone moving in.
Report abuse
Sadly not this time Auntie GP, a so-called lick of paint masked underlying damp.
Dave Jones – I will speak with the individual concerned and contact you in due course. Thank you for actually caring.
Report abuse
@David, I’d much rather see broken greenhouses than new buildings put up.
Report abuse
Well GG – you obviously have somewhere to live and are not part of the 100’s of people that are currently living in temporary accomodation, half way houses,or severely sub standard accomodation being ripped off by greedy private landlords (granted not all landlords are greedy) because if you were then you would want to see more housing provided to make sure good quality housing is available to everyone.
Report abuse