18 September 2015
Mydeposits Jersey has been appointed to act as independent provider for the new tenancy deposit scheme agreed by the States Assembly last year.
Mydeposits Jersey will administer the deposit protection scheme on behalf of the States and was chosen following a tender process which closed earlier this year. The Mydeposits has been operating similar schemes in the UK since 2007 and will help create a transparent and fair way for landlords and tenants to manage deposits.
The scheme will begin operating in November this year and will mean that landlords will pass on deposits paid by tenants to Mydeposits Jersey who will hold the payment for the duration of a tenancy. The scheme aims to give tenants greater confidence that the money they have paid is being held securely and will be repaid smoothly at the end of an agreement. A promotional campaign will be carried out to ensure the public is aware of how a scheme will work and that both landlords and tenants fully understand their rights and obligations before a scheme begins operating.
Legal protection
Housing Minister Deputy Anne Pryke said "This appointment is the next step towards all tenants’ deposits in Jersey having greater legal protection. The States have been working for many years to get to this point and I am delighted that we will now be in a position to operate this scheme."
Mydeposits Jersey will also provide a free and independent dispute resolution service to assist when landlords and tenants are unable to agree over the return of a deposit. Although both parties will still have the option of legal action it is hoped that the new provision will give people greater confidence that disputes can be resolved quickly, effectively and fairly.
"This is new initiative for Jersey and a big change for landlords and tenants. In partnership with Mydeposits Jersey we are developing a scheme that is best suited to Jersey and meets the needs of local landlords and tenants. We need to ensure that landlords and tenants have confidence that deposits are held securely and will be repaid smoothly at the end of an agreement," said Deputy Pryke.
The Chief Executive of Jersey Citizens Advice, Malcolm Ferey, said "The protection of tenants’ deposit monies have been a long-standing concern for Jersey Citizens Advice, so we welcome the tenancy deposit scheme and the protection it will offer both landlords and tenants."
MyDeposits Jersey will be hosting a number of workshops in October for landlords, letting agents and tenants to find out how the scheme works and ask any questions.
The regulations are part of a continuing programme of work being undertaken by the Strategic Housing Unit which is modernising the statutory framework for the residential rental sector in Jersey.
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