14 April 2023
The Minister for Housing and Communities, Deputy David Warr, has published his plans to
give tenants and landlords in Jersey more rights and better protections through changes to
residential tenancy legislation.
The Minister’s paper, Improving Residential Tenancies in Jersey, sets the agenda for
improvements to legislation, with today’s publication also marking the start of an eight-week
public consultation.
The paper explains the proposed approach for updating the existing Residential Tenancy Law
and sets out how the scope of the Law will be broadened and improved. Key proposals
include:
- Introducing open-ended tenancies, offering more security of tenure and protection
against so-called ‘revenge evictions’
- Increasing minimum notice periods for tenancies
- Limiting the amount and frequency of rent increases during tenancies
- Establishing a new Housing Tribunal that will consider a wide range of residential
tenancy issues
- Formalising requirements for social housing provision
The paper sets out the direction of travel proposed by the Minister, who wants to ensure that
policy and legislative development is shaped by open and transparent engagement with
Islanders. States Members are due to share their thoughts on the paper during an InCommittee debate scheduled for 2 May.
Deputy David Warr said: “In my Ministerial Plan, I made a commitment to bring forward
proposals that will improve residential tenancy issues in Jersey. Planning is already underway
with law drafting instructions in place – and which I will consider updating after I have heard
people’s views. I want to see comprehensive improvements to the level of protection afforded
to both tenants and landlords, and I’m pleased to be able to now share details on how I
propose to take this forward.
“I’m keen to ensure fellow States Members, tenants, landlords and all Islanders are able to
help shape this work through engagement and consultation. It is vital that we work together
to secure the right outcome for Islanders, on an issue of such great importance to Jersey.
“I encourage people to have their say via the online consultation and look forward to hearing
from States Members in the upcoming In-Committee debate. I am determined that this will
not delay the delivery of this vitally important new legislation.”
The consultation launches today and runs for eight weeks. Islanders can have their say on the consultations web page between now and 9 June
gov.je