‘Something must be done about this housing crisis’

For months, 30-year-old Danielle Hirst, her partner and young daughter have failed to find an affordable, available rental property.

She said the steeply increasing cost of rent has been devastating to herself and many others.

‘We are speaking out because we have had enough,’ she said.

‘When hard working families are on the brink of destruction from just trying to put a roof over their heads, something needs to change.’

Miss Hirst works part time in the finance sector, and her 35-year-old partner works as a carpenter.

‘We as a household earn a reasonable wage. However, due to the dramatic increase in house prices and rentals we are now faced with a situation that we can just about afford to rent a two bedroom property,’ she said.

Miss Hirst sent her ‘plea for action’ to every States deputy on Wednesday to ask for help during the island’s current housing crisis.

‘Are you aware that a two bedroom property has risen from about £1,400 per calendar month, to anywhere from £1,800 to £2,800 per calendar month in the past two years?’ she asked.

‘A three or four bedroom can go even further to £3,300 or more. There is absolutely no consistency with the prices. This also doesn’t cover the fact that these properties come with high deposits going from double to triple the rental price. One property asked for a £10,000 deposit alone, as well as the extra £3,333 on top for one month’s rent.’

Miss Hirst and her partner recently viewed a property they wanted to rent. However, they were told that another offer had been made over the asking price.

‘How is this fair? How can landlords be so greedy to accept even more money than the extreme prices they are already charging?’ she asked.

In her email, Miss Hirst suggested price caps and scheduled inspections to ensure properties meet standards before they are put on the rental market.

‘There must be something that can be done to address this current crisis we are facing with the housing. Why should leaving the island be the only choice for most? It’s heartbreaking,’ she said.

Miss Hirst and her family will continue to look for a rental property, and she hoped deputies would create a solution for the short term.