States rejects rent freeze for Andium Homes

The proposition was put forward to States members on Tuesday

Plans to freeze rent for islanders who move between different Andium properties has been rejected by the States.

Deputy Rob Ward, member of the Reform Jersey party, who proposed the freeze, said islanders living in States-owned affordable housing properties were facing a "significant rise" in rent.

Housing Minister Deputy David Warr said the proposal would have cost £1m over five years if it had been approved.

Mr Ward said tenants who had to move out while Andium buildings were refurbished had been treated unfairly.

"It is driving people who are on long term contracts... into a contract they have no control over, no choice over, but it's putting them into serious rental and financial stress," he said.

Currently the rent for Andium tenants cannot go up by more than 4% each year.

Mr Warr said the proposal would cost Andium Homes about £200,000 per year, on top of other recent financial pressures.

"We're unpicking our social rents policy piece by piece in piecemeal, it's effectively death by a thousand cuts," he said.

"If Deputy Ward's aim is to provide more affordable homes then changes to the policies such as this could result in exactly the opposite."

A total of 16 States Members supported the plan, while 24 voted against and two abstained.