Single waiting list for States and GHA housing

Wednesday 17 October 2018

Renting a States owned or GHA property in Guernsey could become simpler, with a new combined waiting list giving applicants a "better understanding of where they are on the list."

States Housing and the Guernsey Housing Association have announced that their individual waiting lists for social rented housing are being merged into one, with a simplified system to offer people a property when they become available.

In the past, the States Housing’s waiting list was only for families and those people over the age of 65, while the GHA kept a list for single people and couples under 65 years old.  All applicants were income assessed to check they were eligible for social housing.  

These two lists are now combined and being collated by States Housing at Edward T Wheadon House.  

As soon as a property becomes available, regardless of whether it is owned by States Housing or GHA, then the next eligible applicant at the top of the list will be contacted to assess their interest in the property.

Pictured: Staff at Edward T Wheadon House are now managing the new combined social housing waiting list. 

Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, President of the Committee for Employment & Social Security, said it will be a better system for everyone.

"We are delighted to start offering the single waiting list as it will make it more open and transparent for applicants to apply for social housing and give a better indication of how long people will have to wait to be offered a new home.  This is the culmination of a lot of work behind the scenes by our Housing staff and GHA on updating IT, policies, procedures and processes. Overall it will be better for our customers and a quicker more efficient process for all concerned."

The GHA will continue to keep the waiting list for Partial Ownership applicants, as the financial eligibility and assessment is different. 

If any applicant or existing social housing tenant wants to find out more about the single waiting list, a Frequently Asked Questions document can be found at gov.gg/applyhousing and at gha.gg.

Pictured: La Nouvelle Maritaine.