LANDLORDS who paid a fee for a rented-dwellings licence are being reminded by the government that they may be entitled to a refund.
Some landlords who purchased their licence while holding a 3*, 4* or 5* rating on the former Rent Safe scheme can still apply for a refund but must do so by 30 November.
Environment Minister Steve Luce has pledged to not leave “out of pocket” those who had already achieved Rent Safe accreditation before the Rented Dwellings Licensing Scheme was launched in May this year aiming to enforce minimum standards for rental accommodation.
Initially, the law did not allow for the original licence fee to be waived, but the government said a system was “swiftly” set up to provide refunds to eligible landlords of applicable properties.
From 1 August, it became illegal for a landlord to rent without a licence. Properties may need to be inspected beforehand.
The licences, which cost £60 and are valid for two years, are attached to the property itself, meaning that if the property is sold the licence will transfer to the new owner.
The refund scheme is for the full licence fee, and applies only to these first licences, not in perpetuity.
The Jersey Landlords’ Association has criticised the roll-out of the scheme, branding it “disorderly” and raising concerns over the application process and an alleged lack of consultation relating to industry guidance.
– How to apply
Those who have not yet applied for a refund, but are eligible to do so, should email renteddwellings@gov.je, with copies of their rented-dwellings licence certificate for properties which were inspected under the Rent Safe scheme.
More information about the Rented Dwellings Licensing Scheme can be found at gov.je/RentedDwellings.
