Landlords hit back at “unnecessary” rental scheme

Saturday 22 July 2017

A new scheme designed to improve rental accommodation has not been well received by the Jersey Landlord Association (JLA).

'Rent Safe' is an opt-in accreditation scheme, overseen by Environmental Health, designed to improve the standard of rental accommodation in Jersey.

According to the scheme, a 'registered' landlord meets its minimum requirements, needing to make further improvements in order to become accredited. An 'accredited' landlord pro-actively resolves issues quickly and ensures that the property continues to meet housing standards.

The Director of Environmental Health, Stewart Petrie, said: “The quality of our home has a direct effect on our health, mental well-being and our pocket. A badly insulated two-bedroom flat can cost £600 per month to heat.

"Introducing 'Rent Safe' means people who rent a property in Jersey will know from the outset that their landlord takes his or her responsibilities seriously and that they will benefit from a home which meets a basic minimum standard."

However, Robert Weston, the Honorary President of the JLA says that such a scheme has already been tried in the Island without success and that its proper implementation would force up rental prices.

Mr Weston said that ‘Rent Safe’ “is not actually new at all. It was first launched a full year ago, in July 2016… At that time, the Landlords’ Association predicted it would prove to be a waste of departmental manpower and taxpayer’s money and we now know we were absolutely right.

Mr Weston points out that of the 8,000 domestic landlords in Jersey, only five landlords (or agents) have registered with the voluntary scheme, which aims to improve the standard of rental accommodation on the Island.

Mr Weston adds: “Only a mandatory sign-up would increase the numbers significantly but that would cost the department money, which would be passed on to Landlords in fees and would again, in due course, result in rent increases.”

This is only a small part of the problem for Mr Weston and the JLA, as he also expresses concerns about the Minister for Environment, Deputy Steve Luce’s, attempts to amend legislation to more closely monitor rental accommodation and the landlords who rent their property out.

Mr Weston describes this new legislation as “unnecessary and costly extra red-tape”, which goes a long way to “discouraging rental housing investment by private landlords.”

For more information on the 'Rent Safe' scheme, click here.