In the UK a kitchen should be less than 20 years old

More than 20% of States housing in Jersey does not reach the UK's Decent Homes Standard.

Deputy Terry le Main said although that was not good enough, the department should be able to use some of its rent income for repairs.

But the States Tenants' Action Group said this should already be the case.

I question whether that committee should still be in power Denise Carol, States Tenants' Action Group

Denise Carol, a spokeswoman from the action group, said using rent for repairs should have been done a long time ago.

She said: "I question the committee who have been in office for a number of years and have been allowing this problem to continue without taking hold of the issue and dealing with it.

"Therefore I question whether that committee should still be in power."

Modern facilities

But Deputy Le Main said: "I would challenge her to come with me on a phone-in programme so the general public can ring in and we can put forward our side of the story and the facts as they really are."

Deputy Jerry Dorey, a member of the housing committee, said at least 900 of the island's 4,500 States tenanted homes were in disrepair and did not meet the UK's Decent Homes Standard.

The Decent Homes Standard, which comes under the remit of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), states that to be defined as "decent" a house must meet the statutory minimum standard.

It must be in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonably modern facilities and services and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.