TENANTS are being asked to share their views on proposed changes to Jersey’s rental laws which have been described as the “biggest overhaul” of legislation in over a decade.
Housing Minister Sam Mézec has put forward changes to Jersey’s Residential Tenancy Law aiming to “balance the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords and introduce more clarity.”
The new rules, if approved by the States Assembly this summer, would stop landlords from raising rent more than once a year, limit rent increases at the rate of inflation (RPI) and cap them at 5%, and allow tenants to challenge unfair rent hikes through a new Rent Tribunal.
The proposed reforms, which were described by the government as the “biggest overhaul” of residential tenancy legislation in over 10 years, also limit the use of short fixed-term contracts and extend notice periods for tenants.
The plans are now being reviewed by the Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, which is asking tenants to help shape its final recommendations by taking part in a short public survey.
The panel of politicians has already started receiving submissions from landlords and stakeholders but says it wants to hear directly from renters about how the proposed reforms could affect them.
Panel vice-chair Deputy Tom Coles said: “This is legislation which will have an impact on both tenants and landlords and it is important that we investigate whether it achieves its aim of improving the situation for Islanders who rent their property but also whether there are any unintended, negative consequences as a result of those changes.
“To do that, we want to hear from all sections of the community and call on tenants to take our survey and share their views with us to inform our review and any recommendations which might come from it.”
Members of the public can take the survey at: statesassembly.je/RTLsurvey or if they prefer, they can write to the panel by emailing: scrutiny@gov.je
Residential Tenancy Law
Scrutiny panel seeks tenants’ views
- The survey is being translated into Portuguese, and there will be two sessions with the Portuguese community in May with a translator able to assist the panel.
- Panel members will also be in the Central Market at lunchtime on 1 May to listen to the views of the public.
- The panel will hold a public hearing with the Housing Minister on 7 May.
