Rent safe: Are you covered?
Letting out property in Jersey was once a strictly private affair between a landlord and a tenant but, for some tenants, this came at the risk of uncertainty, an uneven playing field and at worst exploitation.
Rent Safe Scheme
Rent Safe is a voluntary accreditation scheme for landlords where an environmental health officer inspects a rented property and, if it passes, issues an accreditation for the property with a 3, 4 or 5 star rating.
This can provide useful reassurance for a tenant that their proposed landlord takes tenant welfare seriously and is likely to act to resolve any issue quickly to ensure standards are maintained.
To join the Rent Safe scheme, managing agents and letting agents must demonstrate that they meet the minimum criteria expected of a responsible company. We’re proud to be a part of this scheme and protect tenants with this law, as well as assuring all of our landlords that we are up to scratch with the latest standards and legislation.
What’s required?
People renting through an accredited agent can be sure that the accredited agent has:
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Acceptable know your customer (KYC) procedures
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An acceptable standard tenancy agreement
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An acceptable standard schedule of condition
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Lodged the deposit with My Deposits Jersey (or, if the landlord is responsible, appropriate advice is provided to the landlord)
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Public indemnity insurance
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A dedicated out of hours emergency contact number
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An appropriate tenant referencing procedure
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A minimum of bi-annual inspections (or appropriate advice provided to the landlord)
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An understanding of, and aim to achieve, minimum standards required under the Rent Safe Scheme within properties for which they have direct management responsibility
And don’t forget…
All landlords must also:
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Check all tenants have an in-date registration card showing the relevant housing status and photo ID and take copies of these
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Complete a change of address notification within three months of your new tenant moving in, giving details of everyone who has moved into your property (even if it is not a self-contained unit). Both the landlord and tenant must sign the form which must then be sent to the Population Office
A change for the better?
For the estimated one third of all Islanders who live in rented accommodation and their landlords, these changes have brought clarity, certainty and, in a few cases, much needed protection.
We’re proud to be a part of this scheme for both our landlords and our tenants. If you have any questions about how it works, how we can help you comply with the latest laws, or just on how to find the right tenants, give our lettings team a call today – they’re happy to help!