Tenants to have free floor coverings provided

Existing rules mean tenants have had to pay to remove carpets on moving out, unless Housing decided it could stay

Tenants in States of Guernsey housing will no longer have to pay to provide carpets and floor coverings when they move under new rules.

The States of Guernsey said this was the result of work which began during the last political term by the Committee for Employment & Social Security and was handed over to the Committee for Housing to progress.

It added the committee was looking to obtain prices from potential suppliers.

The change is expected to be introduced early next year but will depend on the response to the sourcing and contractor availability, it said.

Previously, tenant Aimee Coutu called for a change in States policy after spending about £10,000 removing and fitting carpets in three States of Guernsey homes she has lived in with her young family.

Existing rules meant tenants had to pay to remove carpets on moving out, unless Housing decided it could stay.

It also meant many floors were left bare for new tenants.

Deputy Tina Bury, president of the committee for employment and social security, said: "Private renters and Guernsey Housing Association tenants are generally not expected to provide their own floor coverings when moving into a new property, so this levels the playing field and brings the States in line with standard practice as a modern landlord."

Deputy Steve Williams, president of the committee for housing, said: "I know that Deputy Bury and the previous Members of her Committee felt very strongly that it was no longer acceptable to expect tenants to move in to properties without floor coverings and be expected to take out loans or rely on family or charitable support, and so I'm delighted that my Committee can oversee the next stage of this important policy development."