Reforms in Jersey housing come into effect today (15 April).
They've been called 'historic' by the Housing Minister, who brought a raft of changes to the existing Residential Tenancy Law, which States Members agreed to in September.
READ: Renters and landlords to see more rights under new tenancy law
Under the changes:
- Rent increases will be limited to once a year, with two months' notice, and will not be allowed to be more than the rate of inflation,
- A rent tribunal will be introduced for islanders to challenge the lawfulness of rent increases,
- Renters must give a month's notice before ending a tenancy, and landlords generally must give three months' notice.
- During periodic tenancies, landlords usually need to provide a reason to give notice. If there is no reason for ending a tenancy, it increases to a year's notice.
- Landlords will also be given more powers to take action against serious breaches of the contract with the tenant or for repeated nuisance, and given protection against market prices falling, or if a major renovation is needed.
It's been assured to be 'not anti-landlord' and instead 'satisfies both sides.'
At the time of the changes being agreed, Deputy Sam Mézec said:
"It helps decent tenants who need protection from being thrown out of their homes for no good reason, but at the same time, it doesn't do so by putting undue impositions on good landlords who just want to manage their properties fairly."
Jersey Landlords Association Chair Guy Morris says, although initially being against the changes, the JLA has changed its stance:
"The JLA is committed to making these changes work for the whole of the markets - landlords, tenants, and agents.
"The big picture is that tenants will have more rights and landlords will have more obligations.
"Tenants will feel more secure."
He says that landlords, they may have to consider changing their lease documentation.
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