Scrutiny Opposes Landlord Licensing Over Fees Uncertainty

The Scrutiny Panel tasked with reviewing plans to license landlords and rental properties says it can't support the latest plans lodged by Jersey's Environment Minister.

It's Deputy John Young's second attempt to introduce minimum standards to protect tenants living in rented properties after a similar proposition was rejected last year.

The Minister wants landlords to require a three-year licence to be able to rent out their property to tenants from July 2022.

Deputy Young's plans would allow landlords to be charged for the permits, but he says that would be up to the next Council of Ministers to decide.

The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel says that creates uncertainty, and it wants the Minister to commit to whether fees would be charged at any point up until 2025.

It also questioned how the three-year term was decided on, and whether a 'sliding scale' for fees would be more proportionate, based on criteria like the rent charged to tenants or what the property is worth.

The Panel also said it was concerned by the impact fees would have on landlords if they were introduced by the next Council of Ministers, and whether the cost would just be passed on to tenants.