The Property Service is part of the Infrastructure Directorate in the Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Portfolio.
It is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the Crown Estate (except for agricultural assets and pastureland) in a way that promotes sustainability and encourages economic growth and social development.
The Service is delivered under four key areas;
Crown Estates: the letting and management of crown assets through the lease or sale of land and buildings for residential or commercial use. The management of crown estate.
Land Registry: responsible for the registration of land and property ownership in St Helena, and providing land surveys, inspection of the title registers and maps.
GIS: management and development of the St Helena Environmental Information System (SHEIS), and the promotion of GIS and mapping services in St Helena.
Housing: responsible for the Islands housing strategy, housing register, homelessness prevention, allocation and management of government landlord and chief secretary housing.
The Property Service is supported by Corporate Support Services and Building Maintenance Services.
The property service is responsible for ensuring it’s priority’s and policies align with the vision for St Helena and that work is consistent with the Government’s core values, laws and policies that affect it’s Service area, including the Registered Land Ordinance 1980, Stamp Duty Ordinance 1987, Immigration Ordinance 2011, Land and Buildings Disposal Policy 2016.
There is no Housing law in St Helena and UK legislation is considered unsuitable to be applied to the local circumstances of the Island. However housing practices are guided by the Housing Strategy Manual 2014 (as amended) which follows the essence of the UK legislation.