Guernsey Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Seminar
on
Housing Control and how it actually works!
At a breakfast meeting held at the Duke of Richmond members of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce were given a comprehensive insight into the housing laws and the way applications for licences are considered.
Stephen Langford, Chief Officer of the Housing Department and Esther Ingrouille, Director of Housing Control accepted the challenge from The Guernsey Chamber of Commerce to explain to a packed audience of just under 100 members how the licensing system worked today and the work the department is doing to streamline the application process for the future.
Mr Langford said: “The Housing Control Law is one of the most talked about pieces of legislation in the island but, from our experience, one of the least well understood. There can be few employers who have not had to apply for licences at some point in time and it’s therefore important that they understand why the Law is in place and how it is administered. By making this presentation and answering some searching questions from the audience, we hope that employers will be clearer about the type of information the Department requires and when, as this will help to speed up the process of decision-making.”
The audience was concerned that the States’ decision on Population earlier this year would limit the number of housing licences granted. Mr Langford advised those present that the Law required the Department to consider every licence on its own merits. “The States Population Policy is an important and significant consideration in determining a licence application, but it is not the only factor that the Department is required to take into account.”
Others were interested to know whether some businesses would be more likely to receive licences than others post Zero-10. Mr Langford said that, in approving the Strategic Economic Plan, the States had asked Housing to work with Commerce & Employment to investigate the feasibility of targeting housing licences to certain types of business that would make direct contributions to the Guernsey economy.
It was also announced that Housing and Commerce & Employment have been jointly developing a new application process which promised to make housing licence applications easier, quicker and more transparent. “We’ve trialled the new process with some businesses and are now consulting with representative bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, GIBA, CGI, and the IOD,” said Mr Langford. “Subject to the feedback we receive, it is hoped to have the new process in place early in the New Year.”
Mrs Ingrouille also emphasised how Housing Department staff were very happy to work with businesses to provide them with guidance on their licence applications to ensure that these were dealt with efficiently.
Summing up, Chair of the meeting, Paul Luxon said: “The meeting was well-attended and very well-received. It was clear that the Housing Department was keen to engage with employers and to assist them to clear up some of the mystique surrounding housing licences. We were also pleased to note that Housing and Commerce & Employment were working together to look at issues which are of such concern to Chamber members.”