"It's just too expensive to live here": Inside Jersey's worsening housing crisis

Jersey social housing
Warning of social housing shortage as government widens the criteria for those able to apply. Credit: ITV Channel

"It's just too expensive to live here."

That is the conclusion of one Jersey man who, since separating from his wife, has been living in a small studio flat, despite working three jobs.

He is one of dozens of people who have contacted ITV in recent months, explaining their difficulty in finding suitable, affordable accommodation.

In his current St Helier studio he sleeps on a fold out bed in the same room as his sofa and tumble drier, which he has been told does not meet Environmental Health Standards.

Easier access the Affordable Housing Gateway is one of the changes announced this week in the Housing Minister's Fair Rents Plan.

The changes include:

  • Gateway entry age for applicants without children reduced from 50+ to 40+ from 2022 and to 25+ by 2025.

  • Single income limit of £40k per annum replaced by limits reflecting household composition, ranging from £23K to £64K per annum.

  • Rent Control Tribunal reinstated in 2022, giving private sector residential tenants the opportunity to appeal to an independent body if they believe their rent is excessive.

The plan also states that work is also ongoing to update the Residential Tenancies Law and outlines how the government will manage the new social rents policy, recently agreed by the States Assembly, which will lower the social rent caps from 90% to 80% of market rate.

In a statement in response to the plan, leader of Reform Jersey and the former Housing Minister, Senator Sam Mézec criticized its failure to introduce rent stabilization and open-ended tenancies.

Speaking to ITV he warned that the government is also failing to address the chronic shortage of social housing.

The demand for social housing has increased by nearly 12% in the last year.

The government's latest waiting list reports states:

In the UK prefabricated or modular homes are being built to help quickly meet the demand for news, something one Jersey politician believes could be a solution for the island.