Jersey government's home leases rise five-fold

Ninety of the 261 units leased on 12 July 2024 were located in Hue Court Towers in St Helier

The number of residential units leased by Jersey's government has increased by 444% since the end of 2018, new figures have revealed.

A Freedom of Information request shows that, as of 12 July 2024, 261 units were leased from private landlords and social housing providers across 19 sites, at a cost of £4.45m a year.

By comparison, in December 2018, the government leased 48 units.

The government said that the list of properties included "client-facing residential for Mental Health and Children's Services", in addition to homes for key workers.

'Not a net-nil'

In October 2023, a central accommodation service was established to provide key workers relocating in Jersey with homes at "rates typically below those in the private sector".

The majority of the 261 homes leased in July 2024 were located in St Helier, including 90 units in Hue Court Towers and 48 in Plaisant Court.

Despite the initial cost to taxpayers, officials said: "The majority of these rentals are being recovered by the tenant or locum agencies.

"It is not a net-nil, however. The Government of Jersey covers rent subsidy and void [where a landlord does not have a tenant paying] only, and does not in any circumstances make a profit on rentals, based on the Public Finances Manual stipulation."

The number of residential units owned by Jersey's government has also increased, from 73 in December 2018 to 126 in December 2023.