OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from a reader known to OnTheWight who has asked to remain anonymous. Ed
Since moving out of home I have always struggled with housing. I was in the private rental sector for many years. Each time I approached Estate Agents it was a battle and a lot of box ticking.
A Guarantor was needed, rent and deposit in advance, as well as Estate Agents fees etc adding up to be not only expensive, but also stressful. Once being accepted I was always worried how long we had, before being told the landlord wants to sell, or refurbish and put the rent up, or they want the house back for family or themselves.
A change in circumstances
I became ill and classed disabled and not one Estate Agent would consider me, as I was then an “out of work, single parent with children”. They gave me the impression I wasn’t good enough to be considered unless a lot of money could be waved at them.
I had to leave Estate Agents and rent from landlords directly, who wanted six months in advance, some asked for one year in advance which would total over £10,000.
I had been on the Island’s housing register for years having my banding go up and down and each time the banding changes, you are put to the bottom of the banding, which contributed to being on the register for longer. I also needed an area close to family so I had support close at hand, in case I suddenly become ill.
Local Area Connection
I have been asking to have Local Area Connection applied to areas such as villages, or areas where there is high demand for properties, which would mean you need some connection to live there. Such as you work in the area, children go to school there, family are there etc.
I have been told by Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, that this isn’t needed and wouldn’t help – Islandhomefinder has helped thousands of others and is efficient.
Where Islandhomefinder doesn’t work
But you have an issue if you’re on Islandhomefinder and you don’t actively bid – my experience is that they can deny you the property you’ve bid on, that you would have been accepted for, if only you had bid on the ones that weren’t suitable and out of your support network.
Is this fair if you need a certain area and have good reasons? In total I was on Islandhomefinder for 20 years. Twenty years of moving, worrying, facing homelessness and insecurity. I have lived on the Island all my life, my children were born here.
My experience of it not working
One property on Islandhomefinder, was perfect. The area I had grown up in, the amount of bedrooms needed etc, I was relieved and excited as I thought this has got to be it. I was praying every day. I was listed as second.
The family that got it had higher medical needs and was moving from the mainland to the Island. I was disappointed, but happy for the family, until their children moved out after only a few months and they had a three-bedroom property, for one couple. After a year they swapped as the bedroom tax came in and they didn’t want to pay the excess.
Landlord: Have sex with me or leave
I was still threatened with homelessness, in a different property.
My landlord at the time was telling me, if I was to have sex with him I could stay, if not then to leave.
So I found another property away from everyone I knew, another move. Then another, and another and another….
Everyone should have a right to be housed, without judgment
I am passionate about housing, that everyone should have a right to be housed, without judgment. Without being looked down upon as not good enough if you don’t have a decent wage, you never know a person’s situation or struggles they have faced.
If you’re a single person with children you are deemed as not suitable as you haven’t a second wage to rely on. If you’re reliant on benefits, for whatever reason, you are highly unlikely to even be considered. ‘No Housing Benefit’ is stipulated in many adverts, some say no pets, no children etc.
Housing is broken
The Island is not facing breaking point with housing, it is broken. My fears are now reality. I consider myself grateful and lucky being housed by IslandHomefinder after 20 years.
There are families now being told there is no room here, they will have to go to the mainland. No room in Yarborough House. If you think this is OK, you don’t realise the stress, anxiety and upset it can bring to both parents and children, to be told this, let alone the practicalities. No support network around them. Possibly losing their jobs by the move. Changing schools. The cost of moving involved. Waiting patiently to move back to the Island, if they can.
What is being done?
The reason I’m writing this is to ask, what is being done? I know there is an Island Planning Strategy, but what use is that to the families now, becoming homeless next week, or homeless now, living in hostels? Soon we will start seeing tents.
I knew one family, years ago, having to resort to camping due to homelessness and the council couldn’t help them. Years later, nothing has been done to improve, it’s gotten worse.
Reassurance needed
What I’d like to see is reassurance from the Isle of Wight Council and our MP who talks the talk, but does he walk the walk? Things need to change.
The Island is being ruined by lack of housing, but also developments being built on greenfield land.
The horse has already bolted
I’ve been emailing Councillors, MPs, media about this for many years, only now people are taking notice, only now it’s being reported upon. The horse has already bolted.
When speaking with some Councillors and our MP, it hasn’t seemed a matter of priority. I’m hoping it now will be.
Call for public meeting
I have asked for a public meeting to be held, not one Councillor or our MP has responded, as of yet.
I will continue to make noise and send annoying emails, until you, the Councillors and Bob Seely reading this, take notice!
One of the Councillors that I have to mention and praise is Geoff Brodie for a detailed response and his knowledge of the issue.
My housing is secure now, but what about everyone else? I will not stop writing until action is taken. No one seems to care unless they are faced with issues, or is it that people are not aware how dire the situation?
Challenge for the MP
Take for example our MP, he’s on 80k wage, with added expenses. His rent is being paid for by tax payers at £1,200pcm. LHA for a one-bedroom is £103.56 a week and a two-bedroom is £132.33 a week.
I would like to challenge our MP to rent somewhere for the amount of bedrooms he requires, which is what everyone else is entitled to, to show he’s not entitled, or perhaps claim up to £103.56 a week and make up the shortfall himself.
Too many second homes
Issues we are facing are too many second homes. Too many Airbnbs and holiday rentals. The Island wage is not enough to save a deposit for a mortgage and it’s almost impossible to save if you are privately renting, with ever increasing costs. Living with parents longer is usually the only way you can save.
Carers, retail, catering etc etc are on minimum wage, who work just as hard as others, if not more so, who get a higher wage. We are losing carers on a daily basis and NHS staff that we desperately need. It’s an ever vicious cycle that is extremely hard to leave.
Tenants can’t compete
Finding a house, flat or a caravan to rent long-term, affordably is difficult. So much money can be made with Airbnbs and holiday lets, that tenants can’t compete.
This is leaving less properties to rent and buy, pushing prices up further.
10.7 per cent of social housing
The Island has low rates of socially rented properties. From the 2011 Census, only 10.7 per cent were social housing, with 7,593 applicants being registered as of September 2013 on Islandhomefinder, waiting for homes.
The South East has 13.7 per cent and England has 17.7 per cent in comparison. The Island has a rate of 47 people per 1,000 with a second address in the area, that are usually resident in another area, compared to 34 in the South East and 28 in England. The reason for second addresses were, holiday (23 per 1,000 residents), Other (22 per 1,000 residents), Working (two per 1,000 residents).
One in 20 second homes or empty
Action on Empty Homes found in October 2020, one in 20 homes on the Island were second homes or empty.
3,564 homes across the Island were unused – with just over 500 of these being long-term vacancies and over 3,000 being second homes.
23 per cent price rise
From September 2020 to August 2021, the average property price for the Isle of Wight was £301k and average price change of 23 per cent (£55.5k) in comparison to England and Wales at £339k and average price percentage change of 12 per cent (35.7k).
Average gross full time weekly pay for the Island in 2011 was £464.40, in comparison to the South East £554.40, Great Britain £503.10.
My suggestions
I have some suggestions if the people in power are willing to listen. I know these ideas will not go down well perhaps, causing a big debate. If you’re reading and you’re able to provide any input, please do so.
- Higher taxes for second homes could be a potential solution. Increase Council Tax on second homes, Airbnb, holiday rentals and short term lets.
- A one-off stamp duty of 7.5 per cent (or another figure) of the purchase price when a house is sold. Part of the stamp duty goes to HMRC, the rest goes towards helping the Island with affordable housing etc. New build properties can be funded from the Council Tax on the second homes.
- Increase the threshold for stamp duty, having exemptions for people living on the Island already, or those who were born here.
- Concessions scheme that targets affordable developers. The Island cannot build its way out of an affordable housing problem.
- Residential properties are split into two categories: Local Market (reduced cost) and Open Market. Local Market properties in general could be occupied by people who were born on the Isle of Wight, historic rights to live and work on the Island, through birth or for those who, although not born in here, have lived here for a number of years (possibly a housing license for key workers, NHS etc and other occupations that need to be filled). This will protect the number of houses available for local people. Open Market housing is available to anyone with a right to live and work in the UK.
Seely: Population growth driven entirely by migration
I quote Bob Seely,
“Independent research has found that all the growth in household numbers is in the over 65 age group and population growth on the Island is driven entirely by migration.
“The new plan could see 7,290 homes built on the Island in the next 15 years.”
We need changes and restrictions, keeping this housing for local people and making sure it is actually affordable, not affordable if you’re wealthy.
More ideas
- We need the building of homes now for the families already living here, desperate. This would hopefully reduce the number of homes being built and helping keep our Island green, not concreted.
- Create a democratic non-profit organisation, building properties for local people.
- There needs to be potential restrictions on holiday lettings and Air BnB. How many are there on the Island? Perhaps a cap of some kind? I don’t think this will ever be considered, as tourism comes before Islanders as it is worth half a billion pounds per annum and contributes to 20 per cent of jobs.
- Local Housing Allowance is not in line with property rental prices. Put restrictions on the amount of rent charged based on the number of bedrooms, possibly.
- Security of emergency housing on the Island provided for every homeless family, or person, that the housing is fit for purpose, sanitary living conditions, so they do not have to leave their support network.
- Depopulation, young people leaving for work or education and not being able to afford to come back, creates a variety of issues, and the ageing, remaining population places increased demands on public services and social resources.
- Where housing is limited and expensive, perhaps apply Local Area Connection to Islandhomefinder for some areas or properties, helping keep support networks, providing stability and security.
Action needed now!
We must ask those in charge to help those in need now. Take action.
Not next month or next year or in five years.
The housing crisis is not going away, so I’m asking you to please, stop ignoring this, instead, solve it.
