15 April 2024
The new Rented Dwelling Licensing Scheme will open in May as part of the Government of Jersey's work to improve the standards of rental accommodation in the Island.
Under the scheme, landlords will require a licence for each home they rent out to someone else. They will be able to complete the online licensing form from 1 May 2024, with a transitional period running for the first three months during which homes won't need to be inspected to be issued with a licence.
From 1 August 2024, it will be illegal for a landlord to rent out a home in Jersey without a licence for that dwelling, and an inspection may be required before a licence is granted.
The outline for such a scheme was proposed by the former Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf, and was approved by States Members in November 2023. It will give officers better information about which properties are being rented and who to work with when improvements are required.
Ahead of the application process opening, a new Landlords' Toolkit has today (Monday 15 April) gone live on www.gov.je/renteddwellings along with the detailed Code of Practice and a summary of the guidance.
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, said: “The online licence application process is being streamlined to be as straight-forward as possible, and I don't see it as being a massive burden for landlords to complete. It will, however, allow us to work more closely with landlords to take corrective action when hazards exist or minimum standards aren't being met, giving us more opportunities to protect Islanders and enhance rented homes.
“This is about the health and safety of tenants and ensuring the homes Islanders live in meet certain standards. We know there are many good landlords in Jersey, but there are also too many tenants having to live in mouldy properties, or perhaps homes where the fire alarm doesn't work, or where the staircases simply aren't safe to climb.
“We've published the Code of Practice and summary of the guidance so everyone can see the standards we expect to see in Jersey's rented homes. The team have also explained in the documentation how some of the potential hazards can best be tackled."
The new Landlords' Tool Kit, the Code of Practice and a summary of the guidance can all be found on www.gov.je/renteddwellings. Landlords will be able to apply for licences via the website from 1 May 2024.
A series of events are being held next week for Islanders requiring more information about the application process, the required minimum standards and prescribed hazards.
Information Events
- 23 April 2024 – 6pm – St Clement Parish Hall
- 24 April 2024 – 2pm – Salvation Army, Minden Place
- 25 April 2024 – 6pm – St Brelade Parish Hall
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