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The Jersey Landlords' Association has criticised the roll-out of a licensing scheme for rented dwellings, branding it "disorderly" and raising concerns over the application process and an alleged lack of consultation around industry guidance.
However, Environment Minister Steve Luce said the scheme appears to be working "quickly and efficiently" – with more than 830 licences already issued.
The landlord licensing scheme was backed by States members last year after extensive debate as well as input from the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, after being brought forward by former Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf.
As of the start of this month, all landlords need to have a Renting Dwellings Licence for each unit of residential property they rent.
However, as the scheme is allowing for a three month "transition period", properties don't yet need to be inspected for a license to be issued.
Pictured: Former Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf brought the scheme forward under the previous Government.
From 1 August, it will be illegal for a landlord to rent without a licence and properties may need to be inspected beforehand.
The licenses, which cost £60 and are valid for two years, are attached to the property itself – meaning that if the property is sold the licence will transfer to the new owner.
In a statement, the Jersey Landlords' Association criticised the "disorderly roll-out" of the scheme, claiming there was "a missed opportunity to get things rights for tenants, landlords and agents".
The group, which is a private association with 270 members, has said there was no industry consultation on the code of practice issued to help landlords comply with the minimum standards for rented dwellings.
The statement continued: "The result is a 124-page technical manual that is very difficult to read, but strangely provides little helpful, on-the-ground guidance to landlords to assess their tenants’ homes.
"What is missing is a tie-in to other regulations and policies that mostly sit in the Environment Minister’s Department.
"Clear guidance is needed on how rented dwellings health and safety fits in with Building ByeLaws, planning and historic building legislation and policy, the carbon neutral roadmap and fire safety for houses in multiple occupation."
Pictured: The JLA said there was no industry consultation on the code of practice to help landlords comply with minimum standards for rented dwellings.
The statement added: "The code of practice does not give industry that guidance.
"Tenants, agents and landlords have been left with a fudge, brought out in short order to get the licensing scheme up and running.
"This is a great pity as this was the opportunity to come up with some really good guidance for rented dwellings in Jersey."
Other concerns included confusion over potential exemptions for properties already on the rent safe scheme, an existing accreditation scheme which promotes the application of minimum accommodation standards.
The JLA also said it was worried that "not enough has been done by government to get the message about minimum standards and licensing out to tenants and landlords", and also claimed that the license application process is "difficult to use".
The statement continued: "Of most concern is the fact that no paper application forms will be provided. Only applications through a government website are allowed.
"Many JLA members are single property landlords whose rent supplements their state pension.
"These members are often older people who may have difficulty with internet use or access."
Pictured: "Of most concern is the fact that no paper application forms will be provided. Only applications through a government website are allowed."
The JLA statement added: "Not providing paper forms is shutting a part of the landlord community out of the application process.
"Also of serious concern is the fact that only one licence can be applied and paid for at a time.
"For landlords with multiple properties or managing agents who may have hundreds of licences to apply for, this represents a serious increase in red tape and administration.
"For landlords it may represent an increase in agent fees. We understand that the Environmental Health Department is looking for a way to put this problem right."
Pictured: Environment Minister Steve Luce said that the system appeared to be working "quickly and efficiently".
Responding to the JLA's concerns, current Environment Minister Steve Luce said: “We have had around 1,000 applications with more than 830 licences already issued, suggesting many landlords are indeed just getting on with it and that the system is working quickly and efficiently.
"We have committed to working with Scrutiny and the Jersey Landlords' Association on improvements to the Code of Practice and application process."
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