States housing left empty for too long

I live on a small estate in Mont Arrive and there was a house that came empty in April this year. It has been sitting empty until now (late November) before we suddenly get an influx of businesses taking up all our parking spaces to rush quotes into the Housing before the closing date. I mean, seven months to even look at the place is really stretching it when people are crying out for living accommodation.

I actually thought something was getting done when after a few weeks of the dwelling being empty people moved in to rip the ceilings down. They do this to every house on the estate when someone moves out because the ceilings are full of asbestos. Now, if the States did the job properly, they would actually move each family in turn into the vacant house and get the asbestos removed from all of the houses in turn, getting rid of all the dangers of this killer stuff for all the residents, but that is common sense and this does not prevail in any States department, let alone the Housing.

Anyway, the ceilings were pulled down and then the house was left for seven-odd months before we see any movement towards it being prepared for a new tenant. One of the problems is the fact that no matter how good or even new the kitchen may be, they will rip it out and put another one in – and please let’s not have anyone denying this fact because I am not the only one, along with the Housing, who knows it’s true.

This is not the only dwelling we see empty around the island owned by the States Housing that remains empty for far too long when people are so desperately in need of accommodation. There are far too many houses under-populated as well. Also, people who are left to remain in houses when they owe thousands of pounds in rent arrears. Why let these people get so far in debt before doing something about it?

The whole system is full of problems and a little common sense and vetting of tenants before moving or allocating them a dwelling would go a long way to preventing most problems. I mean, if a person has a lovely garden and obviously enjoys gardening they seem to be offered a flat, but if someone whose garden is a total mess and full of junk is asked to move they are allocated somewhere with another garden.

Last, but by no means least, why on earth are tenants given the price of their rent in top-ups for many of them to keep it for themselves and fall into rent arrears? Why not pay the money to the landlords and take away the provocation to the tenant to keep it? It’s not rocket science really, is it?

Sorry if I upset anyone here guys, but I have to say it really is bad management.

ROD HAMON

5, Rosemount,

Mont Arrive,

St Peter Port,

GY1 2AF.

Editor’s footnote: a spokesman for the Housing Department replies:

Properties are inspected shortly after they are vacated, in order to identify any work needed before being re-let. This normally takes place within two working days. In the case of this property, the circumstances are extremely unique as significant movement in the rear garden was identified and, therefore, the decision was made to put the renovation on hold until specialist engineers could complete their investigations. These investigations are very rare but necessary and have taken much longer than initially expected.

Part of the inspection undertaken by Housing is to check whether or not artex ceilings contain asbestos and whether they remain in good condition. Guidance is to leave them in place if in good order and monitor them regularly. If significant other work is required to the property, consideration of removing the asbestos will be given and in this instance, the removal of the ceilings by a specialist company was undertaken promptly, whilst the property was vacant and before it was renovated.

In October, Housing was satisfied that, from the investigations, the house itself was very unlikely to be impacted by the identified movement in the garden and it was agreed that tendering for the renovation work to the property would go ahead. If the property is ready before the work in the garden has been completed, the property may be allocated with limited access to the rear garden.

With reference to the replacement kitchens, this work is carried out where necessary and where it’s most cost-effective to do so. Sometimes kitchens do not last as long as their expected lifespan or sometimes the kitchen has been installed by a previous tenant and is not an appropriate standard for re-letting.

Housing staff work closely with tenants to support them in managing their rental arrears. Once these are cleared, tenants who are in properties that are too big or too small for their household size will be added to the waiting list for transfer to an appropriately sized property to meet their needs. Income Support assists many tenants with their rental expenses, but for various reasons it is not always possible to award rental payments directly to their landlord, although many are. The Income Support team works closely with social housing and private landlords to help tenants meet their rental requirements and any arrears payments.