Progress being made on criticised rental scheme

Landlords in Jersey said they are starting to get more details from the government

Landlords in Jersey are getting a clearer picture about standards expected of their homes from a new code of practice, an association said.

Jersey Landlord Association (JLA) members attended a presentation on Thursday with government officials to discuss the Rented Dwelling Licensing Scheme.

The JLA previously criticised Jersey's government for not consulting with them before it was published and for making the document "difficult to read" and not useful for landlords and tenants.

Following the first of these meetings, JLA chairman Guy Morris said some of the issues had been clarified.

Under the scheme, which was approved by States members in November 2023, landlords would be legally required to obtain a licence for each home they rent out.

To get a licence - which would be valid for two years and cost £60 - landlords would have to make sure their properties met a set of minimum standards.

Following the scheme's publication, JLA members said they needed "clear guidance" on how health and safety fitted in with building bylaws and policies.

'Getting detail through'

Mr Morris said it had been unfortunate the JLA was not consulted about the contents of the scheme, but suggested progress had started to be made.

"There's been a bit of a lack of details from the government, but now we think we're getting that detail through," Mr Morris said.

However, some landlords who attended the presentation said they remained unhappy with how the situation had been handled.

JLA president Robert Weston said: "We have been promised by politicians over and over again that we, that is the Jersey Landlords Association, would be consulted on behalf of its members before any such legislation comes to effect, but we have very rarely been consulted."