States looking for solutions to break downsizing ‘logjam’

Consultants for the States have launched a survey and are hosting drop-in sessions and focus groups next month to hear the views of islanders.

Last year the Environment & Infrastructure Committee reported that more than half of local households had at least one spare bedroom and 38% had at least two spare bedrooms, and the situation is more acute among pensioner households.

‘Of course, not everyone who has more bedrooms than they need wants to downsize, and we’re certainly not asking them to,’ said president Lindsay de Sausmarez.

‘However, at the moment, many of those who do want to move into a smaller property can’t, and that is a problem for them as individuals and the island’s housing market more generally.

‘When those who want to downsize can’t, other households in need of three- or four-bedroom properties are prevented from being able to move into them because many are already occupied by those who don’t necessarily want that many bedrooms.

‘We are working to find solutions to break this logjam to help those wanting to downsize and those wanting to upsize.’

Helen Brzozowski, managing partner at arc4, said: ‘We’d really like to hear from as many people as possible to understand the different reasons why people can’t downsize or choose not to.’

• The arc4 survey is available online here, or a paper copy is available by calling the freephone number 0800 4880 223. The survey runs until the end of September. The drop-in sessions take place in the week beginning Monday 9 September – Monday at the Castel Douzaine Room, Tuesday at the Saumarez Room at Beau Sejour and Thursday at the Maple Room at Styx Centre. All are open from 10am to 3pm. Focus groups take place on the same days after the drop-ins. Anyone interested in attending should call the freephone number to register.