More than five per cent of the population of Jersey has signed an online petition protesting about unfair rents. This is the biggest response to any e-petition on the island.

Lawmakers at the Jersey States heard that 5,298 people agreed with the petition for a cap on rents set at 30 per cent of income.

Jersey politicians are looking at new laws to stop wealthy foreigners from buying homes to rent on the Channel Island.

Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre revealed a policy change is on the way during a recent debate in The States.

“In terms of what I will call external buy-to-lets, I don’t know if the Council of Ministers is unanimous but I am pretty certain a...Read more

A final surge in signatures calling for the States to consider setting limits on rents has broken the target needed, signalling success for the campaign to debate a rent cap on the island.

The online petition attracted 5,298 signatures in the six months leading up to the closing date on 14^th February, becoming the first official online petition to exceed the 5,000 target of signatures required in the region...Read more

mydeposits Jersey’s contract to administer the islands’ tenancy deposit protection scheme has been extended for another two years.

Jersey’s housing minister Sam Mézec signed a ministerial decision to extend the contract after mydeposits Jersey successfully met 100 per cent of the key performance indicators set by the government.

How does deposit protection work?

mydeposits Jersey has operated as the only authorised deposit protection scheme...Read more

Buy to let landlord licensing is on the way for Jersey, a leading public servant has confirmed.

Anne Godfrey, chief executive of the UK’s Chartered Institute for Environmental Health, confirmed her backing for plans to licence landlords which were discussed at a forum for professionals and politicians.

The States intention to go forward with landlord licensing was raised by Jersey’s director of public health, Stewart Petrie.

He told the forum that landlord licensin...Read more

Capping rent increases to match the rising cost of living, and a ban for some islanders buying homes to let out are two of the measures the Jersey government is considering to tackle the lack of housing affordability.

The plans were revealed in response to an online petition demanding a rent cap hitting more than 3,000 signatures - the level needed to trigger a statement.

Housing Minister Sam Mezac posted a...Read more

Jersey buy to let landlords will have to provide homes that meet minimum letting standards when new rules come into force from October 1.

The strict new rules tighten up the buy to let market on the island.

From October 1, landlords must have accreditation for listing on a States approved online database. Any landlords that gain fewer than three stars will be removed from the database.

Minimum letting standards will follow decent home rules in force across the rest of ...Read more

Rent controls are needed to tackle ineffective housing policy in Jersey, a leading politician has claimed.

With wages lagging behind inflation, the spending power of islanders is less than it was a year ago, as the cost of housing continues to outstrip rising prices.

The average pay rise during the past 12 months was 3.5% - but inflation is ahead at 4.5%, stoked by higher fuel prices and increasing housing costs.

For islanders housing costs have increased by 6% since J...Read more

Wealthy incomers are ready to pay rents of up to £12,500 a month for luxury homes in Jersey.

Estate agents say the number of wealthy individuals looking for prestigious homes on the island is increasing - up from 119 in 2016 to 151 last year.

One agent - Bradley Vowden, a partner at Gaudin & Co – reports that he has eight prospective tenants prepared to pay six-figure rents while they look to buy or build a home on the island.

And although incomers can only own ...Read more

Following the launch last year of the Rent Safe accreditation scheme, designed to assure tenants that landlords meet States’ standards, the scheme is now being extended to include managing agents and letting agents. The scheme, which grades landlords on the quality of the property they are letting out, publishes ratings from three to five stars on the gov.je website.