Housing in Jaywick Sands to be assessed
A survey next month will look at living conditions and housing quality
Housing in Jaywick is going to be assessed, to see how living conditions could be improved.
Around half of homes in the area are private rentals and the District Council want to use an upcoming survey to then talk with landlords about improvements.
Tendring District Council (TDC) is reviewing privately rented properties in the area to help shape how the authority engages with landlords and improves conditions for local residents.
The work has been funded with a £100,000 grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). It was due to take place in March 2020, but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Around half of the properties in Jaywick Sands are privately rented - an estimated 600 homes - and many are timber-framed 1930s constructions originally intended as holiday homes. This coupled with the challenges posed by being in a high flood risk zone can lead to housing issues.
Carrying out the survey will give TDC a better picture of the condition of many properties, identify which are privately rented, and inform future action - in particular how the council works with, and where necessary enforces against, landlords.
Paul Honeywood, TDC Cabinet Member for Housing and with Special Responsibility for Jaywick Sands, said the survey would make for improved decision-making:
"Improving the quality of housing is a key focus for us in Jaywick Sands, and the survey will give us a much better picture of the situation, instead of relying on anecdotal or historic information.
"This information will then inform how we work, not only with tenants and landlords, but also with engaging government for further action to help improve Jaywick Sands.
"Coupled with other projects, such as our ten new homes built in the area, this will help to improve living standards for all as we look to work with the community to drive forward housing-led improvements for Jaywick Sands."
The main focus of the survey will be on Brooklands and Grasslands, but the project will be extended into the Village if time and resources allow.
Every household will be sent a letter in the coming weeks giving more information, including how to tell the researchers the home is owner-occupied and therefore does not need to be surveyed.
TDC's Jaywick Sands Neighbourhood Team along with staff from the Housing and Environmental Services departments will be on hand to support residents with any follow-up work required as uncovered by the external surveyors.