Review Finds Jersey’s Social Housing Is Effective

A review by Jersey’s States Assembly has concluded that the island’s social housing system is largely working as intended, providing affordable homes for low-income residents.

Housing Minister Deputy Sam Mezec said the policy of setting social rents at around 80% of market value had helped ensure access to good-quality accommodation for those who might otherwise struggle in the private rental sector.

However, the review also identified a number of pressures within the system. These include disparities in rent levels between older and newer properties, as well as rising costs faced by social housing providers.

Deputy Mezec said he welcomed concerns raised by Deputy Raluca Kovacs about rental stress among social housing tenants, adding that the review had helped improve understanding of affordability challenges.

He said the findings had prompted the assembly to take a closer look at existing data and to reassess the policies and processes underpinning social housing.

“The reform of social housing took place more than a decade ago,” he said. “It is therefore timely to review the social rents policy and related provisions to ensure they remain appropriate and continue to support households in social housing.”

The review concluded that Jersey’s market-based social housing model had succeeded in delivering affordable, high-quality homes while maintaining the financial viability of providers.

However, it warned that cost-of-living pressures had intensified existing issues, highlighting the need for targeted changes to ensure the system remains fair, effective and sustainable in the long term.