The Jersey Landlords’ Association (JLA) has slammed the “disorderly” roll-out of the new rented dwelling licence scheme which launched earlier this month.
The JLA had asked the government to publish an easily understood code of practice but says despite a legal requirement, it wasn’t consulted. “The result is a 124-page technical manual that is very difficult to read, but strangely provides little helpful, on-the-ground guidance to landlords to assess their tenants’ homes,” says a JLA spokesman.
“Instead, tenants, agents and landlords have been left with a fudge, brought out in short order to get the licensing scheme up and running.”
From 1st August, it will be illegal to rent out any of the Island’s 20,000 rented properties without a licence under the scheme which will cost landlords £60 every two years.
The JLA has received complaints from members about a difficult-to-use application process, and the fact that there are no paper application forms, making it difficult for older landlords without internet use or access, who would then be shut out of the process.
It also complains that only one licence can be applied and paid for at a time. “For landlords with multiple properties or managing agents who may have hundreds of licences to apply for, this represents a serious increase in red tape and administration.”
Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce (pictured right), tells LandlordZONE it has had about 1,000 applications with more than 830 licences already issued, suggesting many landlords are just getting on with it and that the system is working quickly and efficiently. He adds: “We have committed to working with Scrutiny and the Jersey Landlords’ Association on improvements to the Code of Practice and application process.”
The JLA plans to get the message about minimum standards and licensing across to tenants and landlords in a series of upcoming meetings.
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