04 February 2026
More Islanders than ever before can apply for social rented housing, following
changes implemented today by the Minister for Housing.
As part of his drive to make social housing more inclusive and responsive to Islanders’ needs,
Deputy Sam Mézec has reduced the minimum age at which applicants without
children can access social housing, from 25 to 18.
The Minister has also introduced a ‘general needs’ band for households seeking long-term
affordability and housing stability, although their income or savings are currently above the
capped amount.
The changes were announced by the Minister in December 2025 as part of his Addendum to the Roadmap for improving access to social housing in Jersey, delivering on his commitment to
widen access to social housing.
Speaking about the changes, Deputy Mézec said: “With the increasing supply of
new properties, we’re opening up more opportunities for Islanders to secure an affordable,
high-quality home with Andium Homes or one of the Housing Trusts. I’m especially pleased
that we’re strengthening support for young people, giving them choice and stability as they
plan their future in Jersey.”
All applicants aged 18 to 24 must be financially independent, so able to pay rent and bills in
addition to any other outgoings. They will receive tailored advice from the Housing Advice
Service to support them through a housing pathway designed to meet their needs,
including general advice to prepare for a successful tenancy. Those requiring extra support will
be referred to organisations with expertise in working with young people to build their
confidence and develop the skills needed for independent living.
Deputy Mézec added: “We’re committed to ensuring young Islanders have a clear and
supported route into housing so they can feel confident about their future. The Housing Advice
Service will continue to guide young people into the pathway that best supports their needs.
“If a young person requires extra support before living independently in social housing, services
such as JAYF or the Shelter Trust’s 18-25 Project provide a valuable stepping stone.”
The Minister stressed that those facing homelessness or urgent housing needs would remain
the highest priority for social rented housing.
The changes include:
- Lowering the age threshold for applicants without children from 25 to 18 (from January
2026)
- Introducing a new general needs band to allow households who do not meet priority
criteria to access social housing, subject to availability (from January 2026)
- Removing restrictions on hardship cases, allowing those granted Entitled status on
hardship grounds to access social housing (immediate)
- Reduce the length of time that an Entitled person has to be resident in Jersey to access
social housing from six to three months
- Annual review of income thresholds to ensure they remain aligned with affordability and
cost-of-living changes
- Quarterly reviews of long-standing applications to ensure timely allocation
and identify barriers to accessing housing.
- Targeted review of Band 1 prioritisation, ensuring urgent housing needs are met whilst
balancing right-sizing applications to optimise use of housing stock
- Islanders interested in social housing can apply online via the Affordable Housing Gateway.
gov.je