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Last Updated: Wednesday, 4 August, 2004, 09:16 GMT 10:16 UK
Housing policy may deter buyers
New homes
Deputy Le Main says encouraging home ownership would be better
First-time home buyers in Jersey could be priced out of the market by a new policy of building rentable social housing alongside starter homes.

Housing President Deputy Terry le Main is concerned about a proposal that almost half of new homes should be let at lower than market price.

He believes buyers will end up subsidising people who are renting.

Senator Philip Ozouf, who is responsible for planning, believes the split will help lower income earners.

But Mr Le Main says encouraging home ownership would be better in the long-term.

He said: "We should be encouraging more home ownership and far less rental.

"The rental is always subsidised by the tax payer for ever more.

"The more you can encourage young people to own their own homes, even if you give them a one-off initial subsidy, the better.

"At the end of the day, it must be a tremendous benefit to the tax payer and everybody else."


SEE ALSO:
'Cutting-edge' country house plan
03 Aug 04  |  Politics
UK house prices '30% overvalued'
30 Jul 04  |  Business
Big boost for affordable housing
28 Jul 04  |  Devon
Protests against housing plans
30 Jan 04  |  Jersey


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