Islanders invited to have say on housing standards

The States of Guernsey said it wanted the public's thoughts to inform its plans

People in Guernsey are being invited to have their say on housing standards.

The States of Guernsey's committee for Environment & Infrastructure (E&I) has launched a public consultation on housing standards, and how they are applied to rented accommodation.

The States said this would be the first of three opportunities for people to have their say on how the private rental sector was regulated.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, president of E&I, said the committee wanted to hear from the public to "make sure we get this right".

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez is the president of Environment & Infrastructure

The States said the survey - open until 13 August - was "quite technical" and said there was a document to read alongside the survey.

Ms de Sausmarez said: "Government already has a number of workstreams underway to support the much-needed delivery of housing in our island, including our recently announced investigation into what is holding back development and what government can do to stimulate it.

"But as well as ensuring we have the necessary quantity and appropriate types of houses required, we need to also ensure people's homes are of sufficient quality to protect their health and wellbeing, which is what these standards will be designed to do."

The States said responses to the survey would be considered by E&I, who would then make final changes to the draft legislation - which would be submitted to the States for approval.

The next consultation in the committee's work on the private rental sector would look at the rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants, the States added.

It said this would include aspects such as the grounds for ending a tenancy and minimum notice periods.