Malcolm Ferey has backed Senator Sam Mézec’s comments that the ‘rent freeze’ legislation – which banned any price increases or tenant evictions during the Covid-19 crisis – should be extended to help protect tenants who continue to be under financial strain.
Mr Ferey echoed Senator Mézec’s view that if the current protections afforded to tenants fall away at the end of September as planned, some Islanders would find themselves in a difficult situation.
The Senator had said his concerns followed reports that the owners of some apartments were planning to put up rents by 15%.
‘All these support mechanisms can’t just come to an abrupt end, because if they do all the problems that are associated with them will be exacerbated,’ said Mr Ferey.
‘I think it would make perfect sense to allow the evictions to come back in as of 1 October, but still prevent increases in rent until another review period, perhaps to the end of this year.
‘During that time it would be very easy for the Housing Minister or anyone with an interest to look at the number of evictions, the number of people being chased for rent arrears and it would still offer tenants the comfort of knowing there wouldn’t be any further increases.’
Mr Ferey believes extending the legal protections would allow time for tenants who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic to improve their situation.
‘My fear is if both of those protections for tenants stop the situation is going to be much worse,’ said Mr Ferey.
‘During this time and in the coming years people need to reset their priorities. That’s going to take time – that doesn’t happen in a couple of weeks. People need to reset their finances, their working conditions, their income and expenditure and all of these things do take time. So even another three months would just give people that level of comfort.’
He added: ‘So much of this is about communication. At least if people realise their rent isn’t going to increase they can have a sensible conversation with their landlord.
‘Most landlords I’m sure would want to keep someone in their property who’s paying the rent rather than going to the expense of evicting them and then having to find a new tenant.
‘So it makes sense for both parties to keep communicating, keep talking and come to sensible agreements about what can be paid.’
