The Rent Safe scheme, which rates properties in a three- to five-star system depending on how they meet the needs of tenants, was launched two years ago in response to new minimum standards for rental accommodation being introduced in the Island.
And Andium, which is States-owned and has managed the social housing portfolio since its incorporation in 2014, has now signed up.
Earlier this year the Environmental Health Department announced plans to also introduce a licence scheme for the Island’s landlords, which is due to be debated later this year.
Under the proposals, landlords would be required to meet minimum standards to obtain a licence, for which they would pay an annual fee. It is proposed that any properties accredited under Rent Safe would pay a discounted fee, depending on their star rating.
Andium manages more than 4,500 properties which provide for more than 10,000 Islanders.
Carl Mavity, head of service management for the company, said that joining Rent Safe would coincide with all of its stock fully meeting the Decent Homes Standard – a technical standard for public housing in the United Kingdom – by the end of the year.
‘The injection of an additional 4,500 good quality homes, managed by a well-known and trusted landlord, will provide a significant boost to the list of accredited Rent Safe landlords,’ he said.
Environment Minister John Young called for more property owners to join the scheme.
‘All landlords – from those who own one property, to those who provide many homes – should consider signing up for Rent Safe, to demonstrate that their properties are safe and secure,’ he said.
‘I would encourage any landlords who are yet to sign up to make the commitment.’
Children and Housing Minister Sam Mézec said that Andium Homes joining was an ‘important milestone’.
The Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Jersey) Law 2018 was passed last year by the states and gave the Environment Minister and his officers greater legal powers to make landlords deal with properties which fall below the required standards.
That included ensuring there is safe drinking water, no mould and damp, handrails in place to prevent risk of falling and proper ventilation to prevent excess heat or cold.
