Assisted purchase schemes

WQ.188/2026

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING

BY DEPUTY H.L. JEUNE OF ST. JOHN, ST. LAWRENCE AND TRINITY QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 5th OCTOBER 2026

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 12th OCTOBER 2026

Question

"In relation to the commitment to assisted purchase schemes in the Proposed Common Strategic Policy 2026-2030, will the Minister –

1. describe the assisted purchase schemes he intends to introduce or expand, stating whether these will be new schemes or a continuation of existing arrangements, such as Andium Homes' assisted purchase homes or the Government's shared equity and deposit loan schemes;
2. advise whether his department will be responsible for delivering these schemes, and if not, state which body or bodies will provide them;
3. explain why no specific funding for assisted purchase schemes appears in the Proposed Budget 2027-2030, and whether the Government intends to set a specific budget for such schemes and, if so, when;
4. set out which section of the population the schemes will target, and what evidence of housing need this targeting is based on; and
5. state how many households he expects to help into home ownership through these schemes during this term of office, and how progress will be measured and reported to the Assembly?"

Answer

1. As part of the commitment to help more Islanders into home ownership, I am considering the role assisted home ownership schemes can play in achieving that objective.

Given the early stage of the Ministerial term, it would be premature to specify whether this will involve new schemes, the expansion of existing arrangements, or a combination of both.

Andium Homes' Homebuy scheme continues to provide an established route into home ownership, having assisted 725 households since 2014. It continues to deliver up to 60 assisted purchase sales each year from its existing housing stock, while a further 123 assisted purchase homes are anticipated through the Bridging Island Plan developments, subject to the necessary approvals. The recently completed First Step scheme has also provided useful evidence to inform policy development. There is currently no deposit loan scheme, as the former scheme closed to new applications in 2013.

Future decisions on any such initiatives will be informed by housing need, market conditions and an assessment of how public funds can best be used to help Islanders access home ownership.

More broadly, the States of Jersey Development Company is progressing its development of the Westward scheme, which will provide an additional 35 shared equity homes for Islanders, and we will continue explore future opportunities on States' owned land that is no longer required, in accordance with Policy H5 of the Bridging Island Plan.

2. It is too early to determine delivery arrangements before decisions have been taken on the nature of any future scheme.

Andium Homes already delivers the Homebuy scheme and recently delivered the First Step scheme on behalf of the Minister for Housing. That experience will be an important consideration when future delivery arrangements are assessed.

3. No specific funding has been included in the proposed Budget 2027-2030 because no decisions have yet been taken on the form, scale or timing of any future assisted home ownership scheme.

Any future proposal would need to be considered alongside other Government priorities and the overall fiscal position. Whilst I am committed to helping more Islanders into home ownership and supporting housing mobility, it is important that any intervention represents an appropriate and proportionate use of public funds consistent with the Council of Ministers' commitment spending under control and restore financial discipline.

4. Assisted purchase schemes have traditionally focused on first-time buyers, and I expect that group will remain an important consideration. However, I am also interested in how assisted home ownership schemes can support housing mobility by helping Islanders move up the property ladder as their circumstances change.

Any future targeting will be informed by evidence of housing need, housing affordability, market conditions and where support can make the greatest difference.

5. It would be premature to set a target for the number of households assisted before decisions have been taken on the nature of any future scheme and the funding available.

Any future scheme would be accompanied by appropriate measures of success, including the number of households supported and the extent to which it assists households who would not otherwise have been able to access home ownership.