A FORTHCOMING rent hike is a big worry for many States house tenants. The States Tenants’ Action Group’s new acting chairman, Christine Le Jean, said many were watching with interest development of the new lease agreements.

‘Tenants are still very concerned about how the new rent scheme will work and it will put the rents up for an awful lot of people,’ she said.

Mrs Le Jean has taken on the role from Katina Jones, who resigned as chairman in July following a request from the Stag committee.

Approximately 2,000 States properties are included in the rental sector, from which only 2% of tenants are Stag members.

‘We can only be as strong a group as the number of tenants who want to become members:

a bit like a union,’ said Mrs Le Jean.

Some questioned why people were charged £1 to join Stag, but this was to cover administration costs. The States had provided some help to this effect, but she said it could not be expected to forever.

Some people had a low opinion of States house tenants and this was something she would like to rectify, although she conceded that there was no simple solution.

‘There’s a stigma attached and I’d like to see that disappear.

‘Many are hard-working people who are not living in a States house by choice, but because they can’t afford a mortgage, maybe, or through age or earnings. We are people who care about our estates and care about our houses.’

Cleanliness of estates was another important issue.

‘People look at them and ask ﾓwhat kind of people would live there?ﾔ ‘Again, that’s all down to the stigma attached to living on an estate.’

Mrs Le Jean believed Stag was viewed with credibility by Housing, although the department needed to be more forthcoming to requests for meetings.

‘We do not ask for meetings for meetings’ sake, but because there are issues that need to be discussed.’

Regular monthly meetings between Stag and Housing could be a way forward.

‘We feel that if we meet Housing face to face, we will make more headway.’

Another improvement could be the appointment of a Stag representative on each estate who could act as co-ordinator.

Mrs Le Jean would like to see a neighbourhood watch scheme implemented on all estates.

‘Anti-social behaviour is a problem on some estates, but not on all of them, and we believe Housing are looking at this as part of the new tenancy agreements.’