Request
I'd like to request information relating to the number of buildings throughout the island which are either derelict or empty. In particular;
A
A parish by parish breakdown of buildings (including houses, former hotels & other workplaces) currently unoccupied
B
The length of time these buildings have been listed as unoccupied
C
The number of buildings where the ownership is currently unknown or in dispute
Request
A
Only details of properties that are either owned or leased-in by the Public are held. It may be that the individual Parishes, as rating authorities, may be able to provide information from rates returns.
According to the 2011 census there were 3,103 dwellings recorded as vacant. Further details can be found here -
2011 Census - Households and housing
Earlier this year, at the end of March, a request was made for details of “vacant States owned properties”, the answer to which is linked below -
Vacant States owned properties (FOI)
In March 2017 there were 22 states owned properties recorded as being vacant. The number of vacant properties remains the same, at 22, albeit that four of the properties that were previously recorded vacant are now re-occupied, but have subsequently been replaced by a further four recently vacated properties.
A detailed list of the 22 specific properties that are currently vacant is being withheld under Article 42(a) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.
B
The length of time that these 22 properties have been unoccupied varies from a matter of weeks to a number of months, and on rare occasions a number of years, but cannot be provided easily on a building by building basis. This information is not presently held for all 22 of the currently recorded vacant properties. As a detailed list of the specific properties that are currently vacant is being withheld it is not possible to provide specific time periods for each of the properties.
C
No records are held by the Public of buildings where the ownership is currently unknown or in dispute. If anyone wishes to research any specific sites that they believe to be of unknown ownership then the “Public Registry Index and Document Enrolment” (PRIDE) online system can be accessed either at the Judicial Greffe Public Registry, in the basement of the States Building, or at the Jersey Archive. For contact details for the Judicial Greffe please see:
Public registry records
Exemption applied
Article 42 - Law Enforcement
Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice;
(a) the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;
Justification for exemption
The information is being withheld because it is deemed that its disclosure could lead to the properties in question being targeted by criminals and becoming the targets of vandalism.
