Scrutiny to review Residential Tenancy Law
Scrutiny
31 March 2025
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The Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (the Panel) has launched a review into the proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancy Law. The main priority of the Review is to consider any potential unintended consequences, as well as how the draft legislation will meet its intended aims which seek to: enhance security of tenure for tenants; encourage more settled longer tenancies; ensure landlords continue to make stable rental returns but can reclaim their properties when needed; and ensure both tenants and landlords have clearly set out responsibilities. To do this, the Panel will not only be questioning the Minister for Housing, Deputy Sam Mézec, but will also be engaging with key stakeholders including landlords, estate agents, and those who rent in Jersey.
Deputy Hilary Jeune, Chair of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel, said: ‘While the aims of the Amendments appear on the surface to be a positive change for tenants, it is important that we fully consider their impact and whether the changes achieve their aim of providing more security for tenants without having unintended consequences on the housing market. We are keen to speak to all representative organisations with an interest but would also very much like to hear from tenants and individuals about how they think the changes will affect them.’
The Panel will conduct a jurisdictional comparison of other similar legislation, assess if the Government stakeholder engagement process was balanced and thorough and examine how the proposed Rent Tribunal will work in practice.
The Panel will be holding a Public Hearing with the Minister for Housing on 7 May, and there will be further announcements of other Public Hearings. In addition, pop-up sessions will be held in various locations to gather public opinion. The Panel would like to invite the public to get in contact if they would like to share their views by emailing: scrutiny@gov.je.
For further information visit the Review page on our website. You can also email the Panel officer: a.thorne2@gov.je
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