Le Main wants 10 years

[Terminator 4]

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2009/01/06/ten-year-qualifications-on-way-insists-le-main/

HOUSING Minister Terry Le Main is to press on with plans to reduce the wait for housing qualifications by another two years, despite objections from some of his political colleagues.

Last month Senator Le Main told the JEP that he intended to ask the States to bring down the wait for housing qualifications from 12 to ten years. He believes that the time is right to consider reducing the wait for ‘qualies’ because the housing market has slowed dramatically over the last few months.

But he has come under fire from JEP readers and politicians over this suggestion, which is now one of the most commented upon articles on the JEP website www.thisisjersey.com. Many Islanders are not convinced that reducing the time limit is going to have too much effect on the housing market, whereas others have welcomed the suggestion.

Senator Le Main said that he did not read comments on the website or blog entries and confirmed that he had not changed his mind. ‘As I said last year, my officers will look at the effects of reducing the wait for housing qualifications further, and once I get their advice I will look at it,’ he said.

Good news for home owners but not so good for people that want to see the market drop to more affordable rates.  And he doesn't read blogs or websites!!!!

[Ashley]

It'll go down, you can guarantee that. How else will they sell all these properties that keep on getting mysteriously approved by planning. And If it doesn't work by going down to 10 years, I wouldn't be surprised if they chose a period of a few months or so whereby anyone who's been living here for 5 years and wishes to buy can do so within that period.   

The fact is that the only people despo to buy are the eager beavers who have been waiting patiently for their qualies. Who can blame them?  If they want to pay through the nose to not live in England, Scotand or wherever then that's their business. 

Our problem as an Island is not getting in a major negative equity situation. 

[Fritz]

The ,"Quallies", legislation was wrong when I arrived here 25 years ago and its still wrong now.

I dont subscribe to the, "I had to do my time and so should they", attitude.

If the laws were wrong for me, they are still wrong ,even though they no longer affect me.

[Terminator 4]

I think you have to ask yourself whether Jersey was a better place to live 25 years ago?  I have noticed that there is a high percentage of Polish people now leaving the Island and when you ask them why, its the same old story, 'too expensive'.

[boatyboy]

Scrap qualies completely and you will have a bigger problem than now. Its a small Island.

Two existing Jersey laws would have the middle rich buying here and becoming residents from England and France for sure.

Inheritance tax is the bane of France and England. In England after 380 thousand pounds the Government steals 40 percent. There is no inheritance tax in Jersey. So if you have a lovely family a lovely few million why stay in England. Then there is Capital gains tax none in Jersey.

If you are a property developer, dropping quallies gives you more customers, even knocking off a couple of years. No I dont like the qualies system it is unfair but I like the alternative even less. If you think property is expensive now. What are Terry Le Main reasons ?  are we supposed to know, if we are told do they hold water ?

Boatyboy. Sorry about the grammer in a rush.

[Voltaire]

reducing the years may introduce a small number of people who can purchase a house, but while we have a waiting list for states property, the biggest hit will be on the number of people looking for states property or artificially keeping the rental prices high. There is a bit of a gap between non qualied and qualied rentals, but look in the papers, and there is a need for all types of property. removing people from one list and adding them to the other will only increase the costs of the now larger list.

The motives are purely to keep the property prices higher and to help to sell homes and keep the estate agents in the lap of luxury. Any estate agents in the states I wonder? I know there is a plethora of property developers and property owners. I say keep it as it is, if the prices of properties do go down, so will the cost of rentals for both qualied and non qualied people, well it would do in the UK anyway, not sure here with the amount of greed that runs through this Isle!

[Terminator 4]

It is blatently obvious that it is a move to keep house prices high and when you have an estate agent now in charge of economic development this will be supported in the house.  Lets hope some of the new comers and other people that 'actually know what is really happening in Jersey' at the moment vote against it.

[rogueelement]

Anyone want to buy a house in England ? France? Spain?
well you can (unless your family has not strayed out of the shallow end of the gene pool)
So , we expect to be able to purchase and live in property wherever we like but expect people to come here , live in hovels, or fairly rubbish accommodation,work for 12 years before they can rent or buy? It is obscene, and a travesty of human rights . The sooner they get rid of this piece of legislation the better.

[Nellie Macon]

When you opt to live in any country / island you should be aware of current legislation and make your decision as to whether it's good for you or not accordingly. EG Jersey people cannot move to the EU and expect them to remove the stamps in our passports so we cannot move there and expect to be able to work legally!

We are a small Island with a limited amount of land and cannot be expected to house everyone who wishes to buy a house over here - this would negate the reason why people historically wanted to live here in the first place. The best we can do is to try to bring down the price of houses so that as people qualify / Jersey people are in a position to buy their own homes - there are affordable units of accommodation available.

Reducing the housing qualifying period will only keep house prices artificially high. Why do we need a buoyant housing market? What we do need is more "houses for life" being built, rather than "starter homes". Each time a property changes hands it costs the purchaser and seller thousands of pounds in legal and estate agents fees and consequently the property price keeps on rising - if people had a decent sized unit to start with they would not be forced to move up the ladder simply because they start a family etc and the less movement there is in the market the less prices will rise.

Thank goodness T Le Main is not seeking re-election next time round - what we need to do is to try to limit the damage he causes in the next 3 years!

[newmac]

I notice the edited online article didn't put the usual T Le Main quote "I am the Housing Minister" that's in the printed edition.

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2009/01/09/quallies-clash/

[Chief Minister]

Does Sean still come on here? 

At least he has spoken out against this suggestion to the media.

[danrok]

I get the feeling that house prices are on the brink of falling a little, at least.

[boatyboy]

Terry Le Main seems to be now using bullying, will he pass the downgrade term all on his own ( and for his own reasons ) as did GD Faye and Wendy Kinnard. If so elected members that read PJ (we know that you do ). Please use your muscle again and have a stupid descision overturned and put back to ten years.

Terry Le Main, should make a watertight argument, and convince the public and the assembly that on a small island his view is the right view. Otherwise is called a dictatorship.

The only winners will be property developers. New builds for speculation has fallen in price by as much as 20% in the UK. Prices will fall in Jersey.

Over to you Terry.

By the way are you still planning to pay Dandara full price for the Goose green Marsh starter homes ? when banks are still refusing to lend there money if so why ?

States members ask the questions please, bang the table.

Boatyboy

[newmac]

When he wants to get his own way, he always reminds people that it is the housing minister and it's his decision 

Sean will know exactly what he's like as he from his dealings on the scrutiny panel for the housing sell off, when Le main told the committee that it was his plan not the departments.

[rico sorda]

Now lets not forget Dandars new flats in gloucester street plus the none movers down at bel royal..

Who is calling the shots

rs

ps Sean power v T le main ...... The heart says sean but the head says terry.