First time buyers

Current Policy

An amendment to the Planning Law in 2000 requires that any apartments or houses built on sites rezoned by the States for first time buyers can only be owned and / or occupied by first time buyers.

This enable the Planning office to impose the relevant condition on any planning permit issued.

This restriction runs with the property and applies to every new occupation, and is intended to preserve a pool of properties that will for ever only be available for first time buyers.

Definition of a first time buyer

Although it may appear obvious what a first time is, there are circumstances where concessions can be made, where through literal interpretation it might not be the case. These relate primarily to concessions designed to enable people to get on the property ladder by purchasing a flat without losing their eligibility for a first time buyer restricted property;

• The owner of a Flying Freehold flat will be eligible, assuming the existing flat has to be sold to a first time buyer.

• The owner of a Share Transfer flat will be eligible, assuming the existing flat has to be sold, but not necessarily to a first time buyer.

• Owners of existing flats will not be eligible to purchase first time buyer flats of the same size as their present accommodation.

• Individual cases will be treated on their merit where land not being a home has been previously owned, e.g. such as by inheritance of agricultural land, joint inheritance with siblings of family property, or other general minor land/property ownership.

• Where property was owned by a spouse in a former marriage, the couple will be considered as first time buyers providing that the spouse who has not owned property is fully residentially qualified in their own right. If not, then the couple will not qualify as first time buyers. There may be some exceptions where no financial benefit has been gained, but these would have to be considered individually by the Minister.

In any of the above situations applicants are advised to clarify their status with the Population Office well in advance of making any arrangements to consider any particular purchase.

For further information please contact us on housing-control@gov.je

Other initiatives 

There are plans for the Housing Department to embark on further important initiatives for the benefit of first time buyers, such as shared equity and the sale of accommodation to existing States tenants. These plans are at an early stage, and the Housing Department’s web pages will provide further information when available.