Formation of a rent control tribunal paused

Picture: JON GUEGAN. (34737124)

PROPOSALS to form a rent control tribunal have been paused after it was revealed that the board would have limited powers.

Housing Minister David Warr will now have to go away and obtain information about which tenancies would be applicable to the tribunal, which allows tenants to appeal rent rises, and what legislation this would be based on.

It comes after States Members voted 23 to 18 on Thursday in favour of a reference back which was brought by Deputy Montfort Tadier, who said there was ‘no point appointing a board if you’re setting them up to fail’.

Members were due to originally vote on electing members to the tribunal but that was halted after the success of the Reform Jersey politician’s reference back.

The Dwelling-Houses (Rent Control) (Jersey) Law 1946 provides for the States to appoint a Rent Control Tribunal, but the law does not apply to lettings for a term of less than nine years.

Deputy Tadier said it was not clear what law the tribunal would be operating under.

‘I have asked for a reference back because we need to know which tenancies they will apply to and we need to the fundamentals of the law which it applies to,’ he added.

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