MORE Islanders will qualify for assisted home ownership schemes following updates to Jersey’s first-time buyer policy guidance.
The government has said the updated guidance includes new categories to help those who may have owned property previously, but are facing “barriers in securing suitable housing” or “would benefit from opportunities offered by the first-time-buyer market”.
This includes a dedicated right-sizing policy for homeowners who wish to move from a larger family home into a more suitable first-time-buyer property.
And there will be “flexibility” for those looking to move between similar-sized properties, where the household’s needs have not changed but the features of a first-time-buyer property, such as its layout or location, would better suit them.
The revised guidance is also designed to establish safeguards for “genuine” first-time buyers entering the housing market.
Housing Minister Sam Mézec said: “These changes form part of the actions I set out in my 2024 Right-Sizing Policy to encourage and incentivise ‘right-sizing’ in our housing market, and to be more proactive in providing options for Islanders who want to move into homes that more closely match their household needs.”
He added: “They also fulfil a commitment that this government made in the Investing in Jersey 2026-2050 programme, where we set out an action to adapt first-time buyer policies to meet the needs of Islanders who want to own their own home.”
