His proposition is based on Reform Jersey's 'Housing Crisis Action Plan', which was published during the 2022 election campaign.

Pictured: Deputy Sam Mézec was a former Housing Minister.

Deputy Mézec's original proposition included plans to ban rent increases from being imposed in the first three years of a tenancy, and thereafter no more than once a year.

However, in an amendment to the proposition lodged on 25 April, he removed the reference to the three-year time limit, and updated the proposition to instead simply limit rent increases to no more than once a year following conversations with other States Members.

Deputy Mézec explained: "I am proposing this amendment to remove the reference to a three-year rent freeze at the start of tenancies, so that the part about limiting rent increases to once a year may be voted on in isolation."

"Any matter concerning rent freezes at the outset of a tenancy can be left over for wider consultation and consideration," he added.

Pictured: Deputy Mézec hopes that his proposition will help combat the cost of living crisis.

Deputy Mézec's proposals also include requiring at least three months notice for tenants before a change can be made to their rent.

The Reform Jersey leader has also proposed that the amount rent can be increased by should be capped by a "measure of affordability" – which he suggest could be determined by "the increase in the Average Earnings Index or the average of the Retail Prices Index over the three preceding years" for example. 

Just announced that the updated RPI figure for March was the same as December - 12.7%.

More bad news for tenants who have rent review clauses automatically imposing an RPI rent increase.

Another reason we need rent control.

— Deputy Sam Mézec (@SamMezecJsy) April 26, 2023

Deputy Mézec also proposes to abolish “no fault evictions” — which allow landlords to end periodic tenancies with just three months notice without having to give any reason — by establishing open-ended tenancies as the default tenure, and requiring enhanced notice periods for tenants based on how long they have lived in the property.

Pictured: Deputy Mézec says that many renters are just three months away from facing homelessness due to "no fault evictions".

The St Helier South deputy is also proposing that a “fit-for-purpose” Rent Tribunal should be established to “provide both tenants and landlords with an outlet to resolve any disputes which arise because of the intricacies of rent control being introduced”.

He explained that the current Petty Debts Court system is “undesirable for multiple reasons”, including creating a “great imbalance of power” where “the tenant has far more to lose”.

“Sometimes the mere threat of a Petty Debts Summons can provoke a tenant into giving up standing up for themselves,” he explained.

Pictured: “Sometimes the mere threat of a Petty Debts Summons can provoke a tenant into giving up standing up for themselves."

Deputy Mézec's proposals also include a caveat which requests the the Housing Minister to bring forward the necessary legislation to allow the proposed rent controls – if approved by the States Assembly – to be introduced by the end of this year.

Deputy Warr's proposals

On 14 April, Deputy Warr announced his own said the main aim of his move was to provide more rights and protections for tenants and landlords in a "broadened and improved" law.