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Review: Draft Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-

Committee/Panel: Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel
Launch Date: 31 March 2025 Close Date: To be advised
Submissions Deadline: 16 May 2025 Review Status: Gathering evidence

About

The Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure Panel have launched a review of the Draft Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Amendment Law 202- (P.24/2025), which has been lodged by the Minister for Housing to strengthen Jersey’s legal framework for residential tenancies and to deliver on the Common Strategic Policy (2024-2026) (P.21/2024) commitment to improve arrangements for tenants and landlords.
The key issues identified by the Panel for examination during its review are:

  • Whether the proposed law is fit for purpose.
  • Whether the proposed law achieves its aim of improving arrangements for tenants and landlords.
  • What unintended consequences could arise from the amendments to the Law.
  • Whether the proposed law is in line with the Government Plan strategic priorities (Housing & Cost of Living) as well as the Common Strategic Policy (2024-2026) commitment to improve arrangements for tenants and landlords.
  • Whether changes have been made to the notice (to end a tenancy) exception list and what those changes are.
  • To examine the establishment of the Rent tribunal, including the guidelines used; application of fees; the data which will inform its judgements and its full intended remit.
  • How the proposed changes and consequences for renters and landlords will be communicated.
  • Whether the offences and penalties are proportionate for landlords.
  • What the process will be for a breach of contract from either party.
On completion of its evidence gathering and analysis, the Panel intends to present a Scrutiny Report of its findings, which will include key recommendations for Government, in mid-2025. 

Terms of reference

  1. ​ To examine whether the draft legislation is fit for purpose and how it will meet its intended aims, including:
  • more settled, longer tenancies
  • security of tenure for tenants
  • stable rental return for landlords
  • creation of provisions that allow landlords to deal with unforeseen circumstances or problematic tenants
  • provision of clear responsibilities for landlords and tenants.
  1. To identify any effects and/or unintended consequences of the draft legislation on tenants, landlords and letting agents and on the wider housing market.
  2. To assess whether the draft legislation will be achievable and sufficiently flexible in its implementation.
  3. To conduct a jurisdictional comparison on similar legislation.
  4. To examine how the Rent Tribunal will work in practice, whether it meets its intended aims and assess any costs and resourcing implications to ensure there is adequate provision in place.