Lack of smaller properties is preventing downsizing
HOUSING experts visiting the island this week have been told by many householders that they would like to downsize but there are too few smaller properties available for them to move into.
Specialists from Arc4 are at ‘downsizing drop-ins’ to talk to householders about what is preventing them from moving to smaller properties.
It is hoped that the information obtained will help the States’ approach to housing in the future.
‘The States is trying to figure out what people downsizing are looking for and where they want to live,’ said Arc4’s Jo Price.
‘Generally, we have found people in Guernsey who want a smaller version of what they have at the moment. Many of the people who have come in have had large gardens. They still want that space but something more manageable and perhaps with only one floor.’
Guernsey has a high under-occupancy rate – defined as where a home has more bedrooms than the members of its household need – especially in homes lived in by pensioners, more than half of whom have two or more spare bedrooms.
The States believes that allowing more people to downsize if they want to could help the housing market by freeing up larger properties for families and second-time movers and in turn freeing up smaller properties for first-time buyers.
Exercises at a drop-in held yesterday tried to establish what sort of housing prospective downsizers required, where in the island they wanted to live, and which amenities they wanted to be near.
Hannah Goddard from Arc4 said that one of the issues brought up was the not dissimilar cost of smaller and larger properties, which meant that people who might be willing to consider downsizing ended up deciding that the move was not worthwhile because they would be left with relatively little additional cash despite having a smaller home.
‘Despite this, no one we have spoken to has mentioned leaving the island, which shows what an attractive place it is to live,’ she said.
The final drop-in session takes place on Thursday at Styx Centre between 10am and 3pm.
There is also the option for people to book an appointment at a time that suits them, either face to face, virtually or over the phone.
For those unable to attend, there is an online survey at https://rb.gy/oek4xh, which is open until the end of September.
