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A landlord licensing scheme proposed by the Environment Minister to help tackle "sub-standard" rental accommodation has been approved by the States Assembly after months of scrutiny.
The draft law brought forward by Deputy Jonathan Renouf – the principles of which were backed by the States Assembly earlier this year – was once again subject to debate this afternoon.
In July, Members voted by 34 votes to ten to support Deputy Renouf’s plan to license landlords and give officers the power to enforce minimum standards of rented accommodation that were introduced in 2018.
The plans were then subject to further examination by the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, which put forward amendments – including a proposed exemption of licensing fees for social housing providers.
However, during the final debate on the proposal, Deputy Renouf yesterday told members that all landlords subject to regulation "should be treated the same".
He said: "Why, for example, does the amendment not recognise the work of other housing providers that might also make a good case to be treated differently? What about housing providers set up by registered charities? What about parish accommodation? What about staff accommodation which does not achieve any profit?"
Pictured: The landlord licensing scheme was proposed by the Environment Minister Jonathon Renouf.
Deputy Renouf continued: "Drawing the net a little wider still, what about the many landlords who refrain from applying above inflation rent increases? What about large landlords with an impeccable record of high-standard accommodation?
"Once you open up this possibility of excluding one category from fees, you start negotiating about them all."
Members voted to reject the amendment with seven votes for, 33 against and one abstention.
Commenting on the scheme itself, Deputy Renouf noted it had been subject to extensive debate and said that it was time to "get the thing airborne".
"Since 2018 we have had a law that sets minimum standards, but in practice it has been difficult to enforce. These regulations – this licensing scheme – will give us the tools we need."
The new regulations were adopted by 37 to nine, with one abstention.
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