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A government minister has agreed a taxpayer-owned five bedroom house with a swimming pool can be sold for £790,000, as it “represents a financial burden to the public”.

Caroldene, on La Rue de la Hauteur, St Helier, is one of dozens of residential units in the Government of Jersey’s property portfolio, which was found in 2021 to have a total market value of more than £1bn.

The house had been placed back on the market for £850,000 after a previous offer of £800,000 fell through, said Minister for Infrastructure, Andy Jehan.

It was described by estate agents Gaudin & Co as a “substantial five-bedroom detached residence” with two bathrooms, a sunroom, and a double garage.

In a ministerial decision, Jehan said the previous offer had been withdrawn by the prospective purchasers in November 2025.

“Following that withdrawal, the agent re-marketed the property,” he said.

“The property was re-listed for sale at £850,000, and a new offer of £790,000 has since been received.

“Given the property’s current condition and the level of investment required to restore it to a habitable standard, this offer is considered to be reasonable.”

Government documents confirmed the States approved the purchase of the building in 1991 for £225,000, “in order that part of the garden might be used to provide improved access to the States Loan development at Le Jardin de la Hauteur”.

They added “the Housing Committee had no use for the accommodation and it was agreed that the property should be handed over to the Defence Committee for use by the Territorial Army” as housing.

Jersey’s quarterly house price index figures do not list the average sale prices of five bedroom homes.

However, the latest report said that the average price of a four bedroom house sold in quarter three 2025 was £1,280,000.

In signing the ministerial decision, Jehan authorised the Attorney General, the Greffier of the States and the director of Jersey Property Holdings to pass and conclude “any contract which is required” on behalf of the public in relation to the sale of the property.

“Each party will be responsible for their own costs,” the document added.

Ministers agreed in July 2025 to dispose of the property, as they considered that it “represents a financial burden to the public”.

A BBC campaign aims to help charities and community groups by organising drop-off points for toiletries and hygiene items to be donated to people who need extra support.

The BBC Radio Solent Soapbox Appeal will collect donations at over 50 drop-off points in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight across January.

They will then be sent to charities and communities groups who will help distribute them.

The manager of a food bank charity in Bournemouth, which also provides toiletry parcels, said that those suffering from food poverty can struggle to afford to buy their own hygiene essentials.

Donations can include new and unopened toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste, and other cleaning products including washing up liquid, sponges, cloths and tissues.

Last year’s campaign saw thousands of the items donated and distributed.

Ahead of this campaign’s launch, BBC Radio Solent visited Hope for Food, a food bank charity in Bournemouth, which distributes around 150 family food parcels every week, as well as bags of toiletries.

Mary Duncan, the operations manager at the charity, said that since she began volunteering there in 2016, the need from families has “increased hugely”.

“We are getting a huge number of referrals coming in,” said Ms. Duncan.

“Things that most of us take for granted – people who are really struggling will have to find extra money to pay for those things.”

The national charity the Hygiene Bank estimates there are 4.2 million adults in the UK in hygiene poverty.

One survey carried out last year by that charity, along with product distribution charity In Kind Direct, found that 13% of children aged six to 15 in the south of England were living in food poverty.

“The impact on children going to school when they don’t have clean clothes or clean hair…other children might ostracise them,” said Ms. Duncan

“It is very important for your own self-worth that you can keep yourself clean and you can keep your home clean.”

For a list of the drop-off points across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset, visit the BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference page here.