The eligibility criteria for the island's social housing has changed to allow more people to apply for States homes.

Housing Minister Deputy David Warr wants to cut the minimum age from 40 to 25 and up the salary threshold.

The age slash will be phased leading up to October 2024 to avoid overwhelming the waiting list.

From next month, 'entitled' islanders aged 35 and over will be able to join the gateway, and will be reduced again in March to 30.

Deputy Warr says Ministers are staggering the change will mean the waiting lists don't grow exponentially.

"What we recognise is that as we drop the age the demand will almost certainly be in the one bedroom category.

"At this moment in time that is the longest waiting list on the gateway, so as Andium delivers more one-bed homes we'll be able to satisfy that demand."

Income thresholds are also changing for the second time this year, with single parents with one child being able to earn as much as £61,956 - a jump of more than £1,000.

Joint applicants with 3 or more children earning up to £92,079 - up nearly £20,000.

The Housing Minister says that demand for two-bedroom homes is lower than supply, with just 15 people on the gateway waiting list.

Singe parents who share custody of their children, or grandparents who assist with childcare will be able to move into a property with a spare bedroom from next month.

Deputy Warr says it will have a benefit for families while also freeing up smaller homes.

"We think it's a great opportunity for children to have more access to the parent who isn't the primary carer because living in a one-bedroom home makes it difficult to facilitate those visits.

"The other rethinking is also as we have significantly more two-beds than one-bedroom homes it allows us to realign the supply, so if we move single parents into homes with a spare room so their child can stay with them that will then free up a one-bed unit."

 It's all part of the minister's roadmap for 'improving social housing access', you can read it in full here.