“Alarming”: Action for Housing says tenant jumped queue in minister's deal with landlord

Action for Housing has challenged what it calls the "alarming"  agreement between the Housing Minister and a private landlord who paid for the refurbishment of Government flats at the Alameda Estate in order to re-home his sitting tenants.

It was during last week's DPC meeting that it emerged the Minister for Housing had entered into an agreement with a private developer, whereby he refurbished four Government houses in order to re-home his two sitting tenants. Pat Orfila stated the individuals were high on the waiting list.

Speaking to GBC, spokesperson Henry Pinna says this type of arrangement makes a mockery of the Government's much-trumpeted policy of fair allocations.

Action For Housing highlights it initially believed that only two vacant flats at the estate were handed over -  but it now appears the number is actually four.

Ms Orfila explained this followed an agreement with the landlord that he would repair the government flats at his own expense so that his dilapidated property would be free of sitting tenants. Action for Housing says this meant the landlord would then be able to renovate his private property for the lucrative open market.

However, the group raises concerns about the agreement, claiming the information in Ms Orfila's statement, that the tenants were "high up" on the waiting list, is incorrect, alleging one was actually at number 16. Action for Housing says it would likely have taken them several years to reach the top.

It says the tenant was allowed to jump the queue, making a mockery of the much-trumpeted policy of fair allocations through chronological order.