Rent controls and protection from 'revenge evictions' proposed

Jersey's Housing Minister has put forward major reforms to the law for renters and landlords to give more protections to tenants.

The proposed changes to Jersey's Residential Tenancy Law are being billed as the 'biggest overhaul of the legislation in more than a decade'.

They aim to tackle so-called revenge evictions, introduce 'modest' rent controls, limit the use of fixed-term contracts and re-establish a rents tribunal.

The Housing Minister wants restrictions that limit rent rises to once a year, with at least two months' notice, and capped at the lower of inflation or 5%.

If States Members agree, they could be enforced as soon as this autumn.

After this, landlords would need to give a valid reason for ending a tenancy contract, or face a criminal offence.

Accepted reasons could include selling the property, moving into it themselves or, if it is employee accommodation, that they are getting ready to move a new employee in.

Deputy Sam Mezec says he wants to reduce the cases of wrongfully-evicted tenants, such as those asked to move out after raising a complaint with the landlord.

He also told us his reasons for limiting the use of fixed-term contracts, which need renewing regularly - for example, annually.

"If you're tied into a tenancy contract you need to renew every year that can give tenants a real lack of flexibility if they need to move somewhere better for them, or if their life circumstances change.

"But it also means at the end of a tenancy before it's renewed there can be a lot of nervousness and anxiety that they are going to be kicked out of their home.

"Most places don't really use the fixed-term contract system. The UK is going to abolish their equivalent system.

"Periodic tenancies are much more commonplace and provide more security for tenants and landlords."

Housing Minister Sam Mézec

Landlords will be able to offer fixed-term contracts as a 'one-off'.

However, the minister wants more periodic contracts in Jersey, so that renters can stay longer if both parties are happy.

This means landlords must give three months' notice of eviction and tenants must provide at least one month's warning before moving out.

Landlords must also give half a year's notice if the tenant has lived there for longer than five years.

Also if approved, tenants will be able to challenge 'unfair' rent increases at an independent tribunal.

Deputy Mézec says it is only right to let tenants argue unfair increases.

"This is actually something Jersey had in the past but it fell into abeyance.

"It fell into abeyance at around the time rents in Jersey started going up significantly, so I hope that reintroducing it will stabilise things and make this, over time, more affordable for tenants."

Islanders are being encouraged to email the Housing Minister their stories about renting in Jersey, to help him get his proposals though the island's parliament.

"Too often they (tenants) are not part of the story and [they are], frankly, ignored by politicians.

"I get people approaching me all the time, terrified about how their tenancies are being managed and worried they will lose their homes unfairly.

"I want as many people as possible to get in touch and tell their stories and if we can work together and package those up for States Members to let them know this is the reality of life for lots of people on the island.

"I hope it will convince members that we need to adopt these law changes to make things better for people who rent their homes in Jersey."