Request
A question for the HOUSING GATEWAY team at Social Security..
Samares Nurseries has been designated for Social Housing and there will be a very limited number of 3 bed family homes available for first time buyers vastly below prices demanded by private developers over the last few years...there will be an unprecedented demand for these homes from young people. My questions
1. Is there a first time buyers list ?
2. if yes how and when was it compiled ?
3. if no list how are these few homes going to be allocated ?
4. if there is a list please advise full details of applicants and their needs etc..
Response
1 There is a first time buyers list which is administered through the Affordable Housing Gateway, who accept, assess and monitor the applications. The Affordable Housing Gateway is also responsible for the administration of some of the purchase schemes run by the States of Jersey. The first time buyers list is registered under band five of the Affordable Housing Gateway banding system.
2 Band five was compiled originally in 2012 when the lists of names from the Deferred Payment Scheme & the Home Buy Scheme (previously run by the States of Jersey Housing Department) were joined together. Since that time there has also been the deposit loan Sscheme. All applications have to go through the Affordable Housing Gateway assessment and be placed in band five before they can proceed with any of the schemes. Applicants have been able to apply since 2012 to add their name to this list in the hope of future purchase schemes being created.
3 As there is a current and up to date band five list, these homes will be allocated to people who have applied through the Gateway.
4 Full personal information about individual applicant’s and their needs cannot be released, to protect the privacy of those individuals. However the Social Security department can confirm the following:
Total number of applicants interested in an assisted purchase scheme is 372.
Total interested in one bed properties is 23.
Total interested in two bed properties is 163.
Total interested in three bed properties is 178.
Total interested in four plus bed properties is eight.
When a new purchase scheme is set up there will also be more marketing at the time to highlight the scheme, this in turn will encourage more numbers of interested parties.
FOI exemption(s) applied:
Article 25 Personal Information
(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –
(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and
(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.
Justification for exemption
The documents contain personal data, thereby identifying individuals.
