Yes, Housing Minister

Yes, Housing Minister?

“I have done what I always said I'd never do, traded the niche I had built for myself on the backbenches for the Department of Folding Deckchairs.”

- Chris Mullins

"I have chosen to stand for election as Senator because I want to seek a mandate from across the whole Island for our manifesto."

- Sam Mezec

Before making these criticisms of the Housing Minister, I should come clean and declare my credentials. I have delivered manifestos for a Reform party candidate, and in the last election, I cast some votes for Reform members.

While I did not agree with all of the Reform manifesto, I did think they raised some important issues which needed to be addressed, not least in the field of housing. But so far, the results have been very disappointing.

The slogan of Reform was that “This election is a chance for the people of Jersey to vote for real change”, but change is something we haven’t seen a lot of.

I do understand that there has been a relatively short time since the Minister took office (in June) but there are no propositions even mentioned in the pipeline, let alone in the calendar for the next States sitting, nor even any news on “research” on the various housing matters either on Sam Mezec’s blog or the Reform website (which seems to have been effectively mothballed since the election, as there is nothing new on there).

'in the fullness of time, in due course, when conditions allow, and at the appropriate juncture. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day' Jim Hacker, Yes Minister

I look forward to the Minister replying at some point, perhaps on his blog, to the matters raised herein.

Housing Matters 1: The Petition

“A law to limit rental prices is required in Jersey in my opinion. Rents are far too high. Rents should be around 30% of people's salaries. The present rents are causing rent distress in individuals and businesses to close.”

This petition has reached 1,896 signatures. Ministers have to respond to all petitions that get more than 1,000 signatures

I am looking forward with interest to his response. Meanwhile, let us refresh our memories of the Reform Manifesto:

“Reform Jersey believes that every Islander deserves to have a secure and affordable roof above their head. Home-ownership should not be out of reach for the many, and those in the rental sector should receive a decent service for the rent that they pay.”

“Much of Jersey’s private sector housing is completely unregulated, with no safeguards in place on whether those properties are suitable or being rented for a reasonable amount.”

"We believe that the cost of accommodation, whether to rent or buy, at its current high levels is unsustainable."

“We will re-establish the Rent Tribunal to allow tenants to challenge unjustifiable rent increases, whilst we conduct further research into housing regulation to make sure that the housing market works in the interests of people who need a roof above their head.”

Any sign of the Rent Tribunal? And where is the further research? And when will it be published, and who is doing it? Some details would be most welcome.

Housing Matters 2: High Cost of Housing.

The JEP reported that: "JERSEY house prices have risen by six per cent in the past 12 months and are now more than £100,000 higher than the Guernsey average. "

Gill Hunt, president of the Jersey Estate Agents Association, said that for first time buyers, there would “‘come a point where wages simply cannot sustain the increasing prices both in the buying and rental markets”

Dan Edmunds from Statistics Jersey said:  ‘We have seen a six per cent rise on this time last year – Guernsey has gone the other way. Jersey is seeing broadly one per cent population growth each year while Guernsey seems to be relatively static."

The JEP attempted to contact Senator Mézec but had not received a reply at the time of going to print.

So let us remind ourselves of the Reform Manifesto:

“Jersey’s housing market is broken. The Jersey Household Income Distribution Survey 2014/15 showed that the cost of housing was the largest contributor to poverty, and we have a much lower home-ownership rate than the UK. For too long, the States has regulated the market in the interests of investors, rather than the interests of people who need a place to live. “

Housing Matters 3: Andium Homes 90%

States social housing policy sets social housing rents at 90% of the market rate. Sam Mezec has said he is committed to changing this, as pledged in the Reform Jersey manifesto, but adds. "This won’t be done overnight though, as there will be a cost implication we will have to manage,"

Has Reform turned into a toothless tiger? So far, while nothing will be “done overnight”, there is little evidence that anything is being done at all. Has Sam Mezec turned into Jim Hacker? I always grow suspicious of these kinds of procrastinating remarks. Have his civil servants trained Sam already?

Just to remind you, this is what the Manifesto said:

“Introduce a rent freeze on the social housing sector and research and develop a fair rent regulation system for all sectors”

“Social housing usually has rent levels set at a maximum of 80% of those in the private sector, whilst ours is set at 90%. At such a high level, housing is by no means "affordable". Reform Jersey proposes a freeze on social housing rents.”

Any sign of the freeze? Any sign of the fair rent regulation? An update on the development of regulation – including when we might expect to see it emerge – would be useful.

Housing Matters 4: Letting Agent Fees

Remember this in the Reform manifesto:

“Simple regulations exist in other jurisdictions which the current government has refused to implement here, despite the clear impact they would have in improving access to affordable housing for Islanders. If a Reform Jersey member becomes Housing Minister in the next government, they will ban letting agent fees for tenants immediately (as has already been done in the UK).”

Note the word “immediately”.

There are not, as far as I can see, any propositions or ministerial decisions put forward. Is Reform like the Liberal Party in Coalition, giving up principles and commitments in exchange for the opportunity to be insiders? Senator Mezec might just remember what happened to them in the last UK election but one. Are we going to see commitment to manifesto statements, or prevarication? More of "this won't be done overnight"?

Sir Mark: Why so little success?

Jim Hacker: Rome wasn't built in a day.
Sir Mark: - No. It's because all the Ministers have gone native.
Jim Hacker: - Surely...?
Sir Mark: The civil service has trained them!
Jim Hacker: Oh!
Sir Mark: Know what the civil service say? You're a pleasure to work with.
Jim Hacker: Oh!
Sir Mark: That's what Barbara Woodhouse says about her spaniels.
- Yes Minister