Jersey’s new Control of Housing and Work Law comes into effect on 1st July 2013. The new law has been designed to be an overarching law which will apply to both business and housing and it will make it easier and clearer for employers to know whether they are likely to be granted a licence to employ an in-coming resident. It will also provide more choice of accommodation for many in-coming residents who would previously been restricted to a limited number of properties.
Previously Jersey’s Housing law had 15 different categories under which residents could qualify for residency. Under the new law there are just four categories of residency: “Entitled“, “Licensed“, “Entitled for Work” and “Registered“. As a result of these changes, a new register of property is being drawn up and properties will now simply be either “Qualified Property” or “Registered Property“.
Another benefit of the new regulations is that all new arrivals or those wishing to move within Jersey will need to obtain a Registration Card. This registration card will allow the holder to buy or rent property in their own name (although there will still be some Licensed residents who will only be permitted to rent), but the important difference is that the consent of the Housing Minister will no longer be required for every property transaction, thus speeding the process up considerably.
The new system will no doubt take a few months to bed down, but these changes have been designed to provide greater clarity and simplicity and are to be welcomed.
