House prices will go up until firm action is taken
INTERESTING to see the report on the front page of the Press about the decline in local market sales over the past 15 years. This does not come as a great surprise considering the price of newly-built properties.
Time and again we see the statements about the average price being around £400,000 and a little bit. Where are these properties, we ask? Only the other day, an enquiry was sought about a new build of terrace houses along the Braye Road. The result was £645,000. This used to be what was paid for a nice bungalow in the higher parishes a few years ago. Such is the price now of living here.
Deputy Dave Jones quoted the other day about a need to build in the higher parishes to accommodate 'affordable' housing – Deputy Jones, there will never be affordable housing in this island unless real action is taken. How close are we to local housing costing a million pounds for a standard build? Surely building in the higher parishes will only price up the housing, not make it more affordable.
What would we have done if we hadn't incorporated the Guernsey Housing Association, who are trying very hard with their system to help the situation – even they have a three-year waiting list. At least we can thank Deputy Dave Jones for introducing the association to help with our housing problems, after many past politicians failed miserably to achieve anything.
What do we need to do again to improve our housing situation further? Should we now change our development laws and introduce a system whereby only pieces of land will be given permission for Housing Association properties to be built, or properties of a certain affordable price which is capped and regulated? Is it time to end the profiteering on properties, which is stifling the amount of reasonably priced properties for the first-time buyers? Laws will have to be changed or we will have to build more social housing just like we had to do after the Second World War, when housing had to be provided.
Our island population will not cope at the rate it is expanding. All we hear from families in the island is 'my children have no hope to buy a house'.
Who is going to be brave and take up the mantle of changing our system to improve the island situation or have they also a finger in the pie of profit above all else? Any ideas anyone?
Name and address withheld.
