Unregulated
Jersey has an acute housing shortage and, with very few exceptions, new arrivals and seasonal workers will not receive Population Office consent to lease or purchase any accommodation which is controlled under the Housing Law.
The accommodation not controlled by the Housing Law, and therefore available to such people, is tourist accommodation, private lodgings and registered lodging houses.
Accomodation for people without residential qualifications
There are essentially three types of accommodation available in Jersey, the occupation of which is not subject to the provisions of the Housing Law.
1. Tourist accommodation
This accommodation is registered by the Economic Development Department. It comprises all hotels, guesthouses, self-catering units and camp sites.
2. Registered lodging houses
There are 242 registered lodging houses regulated and inspected by the Population Office.
There are also 14 bank staff properties and 14 tourism linked properties, providing accommodation directly linked to those industries.
The accommodation provided in such properties can vary from single and double rooms with cooking facilities where bathroom facilities are shared, to fully self-contained one and two bedroom flats. These units are registered according to their size and available facilities and may be occupied for any length of time. However, occupiers of such accommodation may not enter into any form of lease, do not have any security of tenure and can, therefore, be asked to vacate at any time without notice.
The Department maintains a list of those lodging houses that wish to be included, which is available by clicking on the link to the right.
3. Private lodgings
The occupier of a property is permitted to provide accommodation for reward for up to five people who can occupy the accommodation as lodgers. It should be stressed that CHILDREN OF ANY AGE count as persons for the purposes of the Law. The occupier must offer each of their lodgers a service, must retain exclusive rights over the accommodation occupied by the lodgers and must maintain the right to unrestricted access to the accommodation at all times. The occupier must not provide the lodgers with any security of tenure and shall be entitled to require the lodgers to vacate the accommodation without notice.
General
The Population Office is responsible for administering the Housing Law and Regulations only and cannot become involved in disputes between landlords and tenants. These are civil matters which must be dealt with by negotiation or, ultimately, litigation.
The Citizen’s Advice Bureau operates from offices at St Paul’s Gate, St Helier, and is able to advise or assist on matters of a civil nature that may arise.
The Population Office does not act to locate accommodation, either for people in possession of local residential status, or people seeking lodging accommodation. We can provide a list of local estate agents for people seeking accommodation.
More detailed information on all aspects of the laws we administer and the services we provide is available on request. In addition, staff will be only too pleased to offer any advice concerning dwelling accommodation in Jersey.
Contact details
The Population Office
PO Box 587
Jubilee Wharf
24 The Esplanade
St Helier
Jersey JE4 8XT
Telephone +44(01534) 448905 (between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday)
Fax +44(01534) 448988
