Jersey housing qualifications to be cut to 10 years

The amount of time people in Jersey have to wait before they are eligible for housing qualifications could be cut by one year.

Jersey's Housing Minister Deputy Sean Power said he hoped the move would improve rights for migrants.

The change aims to allow people to buy or rent island homes after they have lived there for 10 continuous years.

The minister hopes to balance protecting housing rights for locals and ensuring fairness for migrants.

Deputy Power said that the recent move from 12 to 11 years had seen 60% of those who attained qualifications early opting not to move.

He said this, coupled with a low ebb in the market, meant that now was the right time to reduce the housing qualification period.