Government of Jersey

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

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demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
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A decision made 8 March 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-H-2013-0017

Decision Summary Title :

DS – Annual Affordable Housing Gateway Report for the States

Date of Decision Summary:

5 March 2013

Decision Summary Author:

Head of Business Development

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

Head of Business Development

Written Report

Title :

WR-Annual Affordable Housing Gateway Report for the States

Date of Written Report:

31 December 2012

Written Report Author:

Head of Business Development

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject:

To acknowledge the year end Affordable Housing Gateway figures.

Decision(s):

The Minister approved the appended Affordable Housing Gateway report and agreed that it should be presented to the States forthwith.

Reason(s) for Decision:

The Housing Department has historically presented the States Rental Waiting List to the States on an annual basis. That waiting list has now been pulled together with other waiting lists which were previously held separately by Housing Trusts, to create the Affordable Housing Gateway. The Affordable Housing Gateway is now the single point of access for affordable housing in Jersey. The Housing Department therefore wishes to present the year end position of the Gateway to the States.

Resource Implications:

Financial: None

Action required:

Head of Business Development to refer the Report to the Greffier for presentation to the States as an ‘R’.

Signature:

Position:

Minister

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Affordable Housing Gateway - Annual Report 2012

AFFORDABLE HOUSING GATEWAY

Year End Performance Report

31 December 2012

Introduction

The “Affordable Housing Gateway” was launched in January 2012 and has therefore been in operation for a full year. There have been a number of significant achievements with the implementation of the Gateway:-

A common application form is being used by customers;
A single waiting list has been created which includes those applicants previously only registered with a Housing Trust;
All Housing Trust waiting lists have closed;
All social rented homes are now allocated from the Gateway list;
Homes are being allocated to applicants in the greatest need, who have been waiting the longest.
The Gateway is now able to reflect true housing demand in Jersey.
A total of 497 allocations have been made from the Gateway Year to Date (427 by the Housing Dept, 69 by the Housing Trusts and 1 by a Parish).

The Gateway is used for new applicants who require affordable housing and also existing tenants who require a transfer to alternative accommodation for one reason or another.

Applicants are visited or interviewed and then assessed against a set of criteria which allows the application to be placed in an appropriate Priority Band. Only Bands 1, 2, 3 & 6 can be reasonably compared with figures generated from the Housing Departments previous waiting list.

BAND	CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLICANTS
1	Homeless i.e:- Under Eviction Notice (Court Order in Place) In Tied Accommodation where employment has ceased Unable to occupy or return to present home because of Urgent Medical Issue Have no rights to stay in current accommodation such as staying with friends or family Forced to live apart from family because present accommodation isn't suitable In “hostel” or “shelter” type accommodation; Existing tenant needing to Transfer for decant reason Existing tenant under occupying Any combination of Band 2 characteristics
2	Grave overcrowding (opposite gender children sharing a room or more than 2 children in one room) Poor housing standards Moderate Medical Cases (by Medical Officer of Health determination) Other social housing transfers
3	Private Rented Sector tenants who are adequately housed but are unable to afford the current rent – with or without financial assistance.
4	Presently Adequately Housed - little or no housing need but simply wish to change home
5	Register for those who wish to purchase but require some kind of financial assistance to do so.
6	Multi-Agency Supported Housing – Applicants who will require ongoing landlord support to live independently and are only likely to be housed by certain landlords who can offer that ‘extra care’.

Overall demand remains high in the top priority bands – Bands 1, 2, 3 and 6. This is undoubtedly due to:-

A slow down in the supply of new social housing;
A worsening economic climate;
An ageing population.

Demand from new applicants requiring affordable housing to rent

The overall figure demonstrating demand for social rental accommodation for new applicants has increased by 137 applicants over the last 12 months (not including Band 4, as they are deemed adequately housed).

The number of new applicants as at 1 January 2013 comprised 659 families/individuals. This figure includes those applicants in Bands 1, 2, 3 and 6 only.

Comparison figures for the position at 1 January in previous years are:

2012 - 522

2011 - 425

2010 - 385

2009 - 292

2008 - 254

2007 - 243

During 2012, 315 new applicants were housed, either by the Housing Department or one of the Housing Trusts. Comparison figures for previous years are:

2011 - 230

2010 - 206

2009 - 256

2008 - 235

2007 - 207

2006- 270

Applicants housed through the Gateway during 2012 – by Priority Band & Bed Size Need

New Applicants Housed
	1 Bed	2 Bed	3 Bed	4 Bed	5 + Bed	TOTAL
Band 1	67	97	23	n/a	1	188
Band 2	26	42	15	n/a	n/a	83
Band 3	3	6	n/a	n/a	n/a	9
Band 4	1	4	n/a	n/a	n/a	5
Band 5	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0
Band 6	19	9	2	n/a	n/a	30
TOTAL	116	158	40	0	1	315

Existing Tenants Transferred
	1 Bed	2 Bed	3 Bed	4 Bed	5 + Bed	TOTAL
Band 1	62	30	25	2	2	121
Band 2	15	9	15	6	2	47
Band 3
Band 4
Band 5
Band 6	7	3	3	1	n/a	14
TOTAL	84	42	43	9	4	182

Summary
Housed by the Housing Department	427
Housed by the Jersey Homes Trust	30
Housed by Les Vaux Housing Trust	36
Housed by CTJ Housing Trust	3
Housed by a Parish	1
Total Applicants Housed in 2012	497

Total Demand for Affordable Rental

Total number of active applicants assessed through the Gateway, Bands 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6

One Bed Need	505
Two Bed Need	450
Three Bed Need	258
Four Bed Need	42
Five+ Need	3
TOTAL	1258

The figures below represent the properties that would be released by those currently living in a unit of social housing – whether that is with the States or a Housing Trust – when they are transferred to alternative accommodation. Using these figures it is possible to calculate the overall net demand.

Units Released

Bed Size	Number
One Bed	105
Two Bed	208
Three Bed	104
Four Bed	11
Five+	0
TOTAL	428

Overall Net Requirement

Bed Size	Number
One Bed	400
Two Bed	242
Three Bed	154
Four Bed	31
Five+	3
TOTAL	830

The figures demonstrate a continuing need for one and two bedroom units, where particularly the elderly and those younger, smaller families, are clearly struggling to source suitable, affordable accommodation in the private sector.

Rolling 12 month Totals (new applicants and transfers)

2011
DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEPT	OCT	NOV	DEC
885	1031	1220	1266	1298	1241	1234	1207	1226	1235	1244	1249	1258

Gateway Implementation Commenced

New Applicants Active on the Gateway Waiting List at the close of 2012

Band 1 – Highest Priority – this Band refers to applicants who are actually homeless, under eviction notice, in tied accommodation, urgent medical issues, no rights to current accommodation such as staying with family or forced to live apart as present accommodation is not suitable.

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
56	32	26	1	0	115

Band 2 – This Band refers to cases of overcrowding, poor housing standards, moderate medical etc

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
85	147	72	5	1	310

Band 3 – This Band reflects applicants whose current accommodation is unaffordable given their personal circumstances

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
117	112	48	3	0	280

Band 6 – This Band is reserved for agency referrals through the Supported Housing Group

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
15	3	0	1	0	19

Band 4 – This Band refers to those who are able to re-house themselves in the private sector without financial assistance

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
100	46	21	3	1	171

Existing Tenants waiting for a Transfer at the close of 2012

Band 1 – For transferring tenants in social housing this Band refers to those under occupying their current home and urgent medical circumstances

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
60	56	13	4	0	133

Band 2 – For transferring tenants in social housing this Band refers to those suffering from grave overcrowding or moderate medical circumstances

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
66	49	76	25	1	217

Band 3 – There are currently no transfer applicants in this Band, which relates to those tenants who may need to move on financial grounds.

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
0	0	0	0	0	0

Band 6 – This Band is reserved for agency referrals for transfers through the Supported Housing Group or Assisted Living Team.

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
6	5	2	0	0	13

Band 4 – There are currently no transfer applicants in Band 4, which relates to those who are able to re-house themselves in the private sector without financial assistance.

One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five + Bed	TOTAL
0	0	0	0	0	0

Average time that an Applicant has been waiting on the Gateway.

Average waiting times within the Bands for new applicants for affordable housing (in months)
Band	One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five+ Bed
Band 1	10	7	14	38	n/a
Band 2	19	19	23	18	3
Band 3	31	27	28	16	n/a
Band 4	35	38	36	35	64
Band 6	10	8	n/a	9	n/a

Average waiting times within the Bands for existing affordable housing tenants awaiting a transfer (in months)
Band	One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five+ Bed
Band 1	23	23	20	9	n/a
Band 2	25	29	20	25	39
Band 3	NO APPLICANTS AT PRESENT
Band 4	NO APPLICANTS AT PRESENT
Band 6	14	10	14	n/a	n/a

Average Waiting Times - for those housed Year to Date (31st December 2012)

Average waiting times within the Bands for new applicants for affordable housing now housed (in months)
Band	One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five+ Bed
Band 1	7	9	16	n/a	1
Band 2	20	21	29	n/a	n/a
Band 3	16	34	n/a	n/a	n/a
Band 4	16	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Band 6	5	6	17	n/a	n/a

Average waiting times within the Bands for existing affordable housing tenants who have now been transferred (in months)
Band	One Bed	Two Bed	Three Bed	Four Bed	Five+ Bed
Band 1	24	15	15	15	21
Band 2	21	31	29	33	22
Band 3
Band 4	NONE HOUSED IN PERIOD
Band 6	7	2	6	41	n/a

Band 5 Applicant Summary – for Affordable Housing Purchase Schemes

Total Number of Applicants in Band 5 at 31st December 2012

Bed Size Request

One

Two

Three

Four +

One or Two

Two or Three

No. of Applicants

Number of Children

No. of Children	0	1	2	3	4+
No. of Applicants	28	49	50	11	2

Income Data

Income Bracket	Number of Applicants
Less than £15,000	5
£15,000 - £24,999	9
£25,000 - £34,999	19
£35,000 - £44,999	24
£45,000 - £54,999	40
£55,000 - £64,999	22
£65,000 - £74,999	18
£75,000 – £84,999	2
£85,000 - £94,999	1
£95,000 - £104,999	0
£105,000 - £114,999	0
More than £115,000	0

Deposit Availability

Deposit Bracket	Number of Applicants
None	21
Under £10,000	43
£10,000 - £29,000	50
£30,000 - £49,999	15
£50,000 or more	11*

* In most cases these applicants have a flat to sell in order to release the deposit.

Share Transfer

Freehold/Flying Freehold

Leasehold

Breakdown of higher earners & their deposit availability

	None	Under £10K	£10K-£29K	£30K-£49K	£50K +
24 x £35,000 - £44,999	1	7	10	3	3
40 x £45,000 - £54,999	9	13	11	6	1
22 x £55,000 - £64,999	3	7	11	0	1
18 x £65,000 - £74,999	4	5	6	1	2
2 x £75,000 – £84,999	0	1	1	0	0
1 x £85,000 - £94,999	0	0	0	0	1