- Housing Department considering major reforms to Jersey’s housing market
- They include scrapping non-qualified status for tenants
- See the current average price of homes in Jersey below
- Do you think it’s time to scrap non-qualified status for Jersey’s rental market? Take part in our poll
MAJOR reforms to Jersey’s housing market, including scrapping non-qualified status for tenants and reintroducing States loans to fund mortgage deposits, are being considered by the Housing Department.
The Housing Strategy Unit announced on Thursday that a raft of policies will be looked at over the next 18 months and a public consultation will be held as it aims to improve standards and the supply of homes.
Islanders are being invited to provide comments on the proposals, which include:
Between April and June this year, the mean price of a:
- one-bedroom flat was £216,000
- two-bedroom house was £418,000
- three-bedroom house was £503,000
- four-bedroom house was £708,000[/breakout]
- Scrapping unqualified housing status in the rental market to give newcomers to the Island the same tenancy rights as locals.
- Providing States funding for shared home ownership schemes to help get homebuyers on the property ladder.
- The re-introduction of States-provided loans to fund deposits for Islanders trying to get a mortgage.
- The introduction of a voluntary accreditation scheme for landlords, which would allow tenants to review the quality of landlords and properties.
- And introducing incentives for homeowners to put empty properties on the market.
Ralph Buchholz, of the Housing Strategy Unit, said that Jersey’s current rental restrictions, which prevent ‘unqualified’ newcomers to the Island renting many properties, would be reviewed to consider making the market more equal.
He said: ‘We are going to ask if it is fair that if someone comes to work in the Island that they should have to live in a lower standard of accommodation than people already living here.
‘They also have to pay more for this sort of accommodation, even though nearly all of the complaints that are received in the Citizens Advice Bureau about property relate to non-qualified accommodation.’
At present immigrants to Jersey can only rent any type of property in the Island if they have lived here for ten years or are an essential employee, such as a nurse or doctor.
Meanwhile, the department is considering reintroducing two initiatives which in the past have helped people get on the property ladder.
A scheme launched in Trinity last year saw 25 new-build properties put up for sale to first-time buyers, with parish and States funding provided to co-fund the purchases.
This could one day be rolled out across the Island.
And a £3 million scheme was also funded by the States in 2013 to provide loans for homebuyers’ deposits.
Mr Buchholz confirmed that they would like to see more of these initiatives but admitted funding would be a challenge.
He said: ‘We would really like to bring schemes like this back, but obviously it’s not easy at the moment with the state of the economy.
‘But there are signs that things are improving, and we will be looking at innovative ways to provide funding.’
Housing Minister Anne Pryke said that she aims for every Islander to live in ‘secure and stable housing’ and the policies outlined in the new strategy would help deliver this.
Other policies which will be looked at as part of the review will include engaging local communities with affordable housing providers, and providing incentives for land with planning permission in place to be developed.
Deputy Montfort Tadier, who has been a critic of the States housing policy in the past, welcomed the plans but said that he would like to see the department go even further.
He said: ‘I would also like to see the introduction of rent controls, and would like to see a rent-to-buy scheme introduced to help people get on the property ladder.
‘And a voluntary accreditation scheme does not go far enough – all landlords should be registered.’
To take part in the Housing Department’s consultation visit gov.je.
- One-bedroom flat: £211,000
- Two-bedroom flat: £341,000
- Two-bedroom house: £405,000
- Three-bedroom house: £502,000
- Four-bedroom house: £694,000[/breakout]
