'Tweaks' to Jersey's housing statuses could see qualification limits reduced

Jersey's Housing Minister wants to change the qualification periods and housing licensing system for people living on the island.

Changes could include halving the number of consecutive years a person must be on the island to become qualified to 5 instead of ten.

Deputy Sam Mézec told the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel that his plans to "tweak" the current system would make it fairer for all islanders.

Deputy Mézec tells ITV News: "Ministers are working together to see if there's a decent option in Jersey's interests and help to provide a better quality of life to people working in Jersey.

"Officers are looking at modelling what that might look like, what population impact that might have, the impact on the rest of the housing market.

"It is very much an unfair system and we have people who are here in Jersey, working hard as part of our community and because they haven't lived here long enough, are not living in the right kind of housing for them."

ITV News spoke to those in the housing industry, with one estate agent saying that while the changes make sense in theory, more people of qualified status could mean higher house and rental prices.

The Housing Minister reassures: "We can't just make decisions without fully thinking through the potential consequences so we've got to be careful about it but I think there's a fairer balance we can strike overall. We've just got to find it."

What are Jersey's housing categories?

• Entitled: People who have lived in Jersey for 10+ years, were born on the island or have lived there since childhood. They can buy, sell or rent any property or work anywhere without needing a licence.

• Licensed: People who are 'essential employees', brought over to the island to work in a specialised, often senior, role. They can buy, sell or rent any property as long as they retain their licence through their employer.

• Entitled to work: People who have lived in Jersey for 5+ years, or are married/in a civil partnership with someone who is entitled/licensed/entitled to work. They can buy a property jointly with their partner and work anywhere without requiring a licence.

• Registered: Someone who has lived in Jersey for fewer than five years and doesn't fit any of the above criteria. They can rent certain properties or live as a lodger, and require a licence from their employer to work.

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