The Housing Minister has announced policy changes aimed at helping young people who don't have children and those trying to buy a first home later in life.

Childless islanders over the age of 25 are now eligible for social housing in Jersey.

The Housing Minister has lowered the qualifying age from 30, after dropping it from 35 earlier this year.

There has been a gradual reduction over the past 2.5 years, with the previous minister dropping the qualifying age for people without children from 40 to 35 last September, and his predecessor cutting it from 50 to 40 in April 2022.

Speaking about the change, Deputy Sam Mézec said:

“Reducing the age threshold from 30 to 25 to apply for social housing is a step towards making social housing a tenure of choice for as many Islanders as possible, providing desirable homes for people from all walks of life in thriving communities.

"Young people should not be excluded from social housing, so I am very pleased to be making this change now. 

“We’ve been able to make this change as a result of Andium Homes’ investment in building new homes for Islanders, with over 1,000 homes to be delivered by 2027.

"As even more of these homes become available next year, it is important for Islanders to know that they now have the opportunity to access these homes and apply for social housing through the Affordable Housing Gateway."  

Separately, the Minister has changed the eligibility rules for government help to buy a first home,  so that older people with bigger incomes than were previously allowed can qualify if they can't borrow enough on a mortgage due to their age.

Deputy Sam Mézec told Channel 103 there had to be some flexibility:

"The income limit has been the same no matter what age you are if you want first-time buyer support, but if you are in your forties and looking to buy your first home at that point in your life, your mortgage term is going to be shorter than somebody younger.  You need a higher income to get the same outcome as a younger person on a lower income."