More than 2,900 rental homes fail inspections

MORE than 2,900 out of 3,000 rental homes inspected in Jersey have failed to meet minimum health and safety standards since tighter regulations were introduced two years ago, it has been revealed.

Environment Minister John Young said that the figures were ‘unacceptable’ and he was now looking to increase the number of inspections carried out after his plans to introduce a landlord licensing scheme were narrowly rejected by the States in September.

In response to a written States question tabled by Deputy Rob Ward, the minister said that around 500 properties, which include over 3,000 homes, had been inspected since the Rented Dwellings Law was brought into force in 2018, introducing new basic health and safety requirements.

More than 2,900 of the dwellings inspected did not meet the new standards. It is not known on what criteria they failed. Since 2018, 316 complaints have been received from Islanders about the conditions they were living in, prompting many of the investigations.

The minimum standards that were introduced include certain mandatory safety measures, such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms being fitted, as well as checks being carried out on gas and electrical installations.

Homes must also be protected from ‘hazards’, such as damp, mould growth, excess heat or cold, poisonous substances like asbestos or lead, over-crowding or poor hygiene.

Deputy Young’s response says that he is investigating means by which more investigations can take place outside of the complaints process and address the issues.

‘There have been complaints relating to approximately 316 properties with specific reference to minimum standards,’ he said.

‘Other properties have been inspected under other legislation where failure to meet minimum standards was observed. In total, over 550 properties have been inspected, representing over 3,000 dwellings. ‘Over 2,900 of these dwellings failed to meet the minimum standards as set out in the law to a greater or lesser extent.’

He added: ‘The minister considers that the unacceptably high numbers of non-compliance with the minimum standards demonstrate that the law, since the appointed day act was adopted in September 2018 by the Assembly, is of paramount importance.

‘These numbers mainly reflect inspections initiated by a complaint, so the minister is actively considering ways we can become more effective in achieving compliance after the Assembly rejected his proposals to licence rented dwellings.’

The minister’s previous proposals for a landlord licensing scheme were defeated by 24 votes to 21.Under the proposals landlords would have needed to join a register and inspect properties before and after tenancies to assess their condition. The minister would also have been able to fine landlords for breaches of the regulations. Opponents of the move said that the associated bureaucracy and costs would have driven up rental prices and forced some properties to be taken off the market.