Housing was a hot topic throughout the year and no wonder with 1,000 people on the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) waiting list in January.

And those who did have a permanent roof over their head struggled with high costs.

It was too much for pensioner Winifred Dodd who was forced to leave the Island because she couldn?t afford her rent.

She was followed by Tommy Aitchison, 88, and his wife Lois, 87, who were forced to leave after being unable to cope with monthly expenses three times their income.

Government MP George Scott suggests hard-up seniors should consider settling in retirement communities abroad, which draws an outraged response from Age Concern.

Meanwhile a Warwick home with a monthly rent of $32,500 hits the headlines while a Bermuda College economist warns housing prices were out of control and totally out of proportion with the average salary.

Ashfield DeVent took over the Housing brief in January from Terry Lister and says tackling the Island?s affordable housing problem is his priority.

He attacks the Opposition for politicising Government?s bid to put in housing at Prospect but eventually pulls the plan for 34 homes after strong opposition.

A month later former Housing Minister David Burch is appointed to the BHC board but the quango is forced to back down on its bid to award $70,000 consultancy work to its chairman Charlton Dill while he remains on the board.

In March Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent unveils a plan to start building 53 apartments in the coming year at the cost of $12 million.

He also promises to take a fresh look at the Island?s soaring rents after figures show the average studio apartment is going for $1,354, the average one-bed for $1,838, the average two-bed for $3,577 and the average three-bed for $6,143.

However to the critics Mr. DeVent?s plan seems short on details. Bermuda?s plight is not lost on Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity International, who was shocked about the seriousness of the housing crisis during a visit in May.

The Bermuda Counsellors Association weigh in on the issue and present concerns to Mr. DeVent.

The plan to evict BHC tenants from Anchorage Road, St. George?s gets heavy play from Opposition politicians.

The plan to put homes at Ship?s Wharf, Southside is opposed by residents when it first surfaces in the summer but Government pushes it through after bypassing the Development Applications Board.

The lottery for rights to buy one of the 98 cut-price homes draws hundreds of applicants but the development faces huge problems with business tenants given little time to move which forces work to be delayed.

In July, The Bermuda Housing Corporation unveils plans for building an apartment block in the City of Hamilton.

The two-year long investigation into corruption at BHC is closed in August with charges levelled only against one former employee.

The Police probe found plenty that was unethical but not illegal.

However there is light at the end of the tunnel when the 2003 audit of BHC books is released towards the end of the year revealing the corporation had cleaned up its act.

In a bid to clear up the controversy over the sale of flat to BHC, Transport Minister Ewart Brown offers to buy back the Flatts property he sold to BHC three years earlier for the same price but the offer is rejected.

As pressure mounts on Mr DeVent, he announces he is interested in building prefab homes.

Government brings in duty concessions on materials imported for BHC and for the Harbourside project to reduce housing costs.

Massive rent hikes by the Bermuda Housing Trust at seniors homes also causes a storm but gets the backing of Government who say the money is needed for maintenance.

Seniors got a break at the end of the year when they were exempted from paying land tax on their primary residences.