What Jersey’s New Housing and Employment Rules Mean

Jersey’s government has published further details on its revised housing and employment rules, following changes introduced last month that raised salary thresholds for workers seeking accommodation on the island.

Under the updated guidance, employees earning £54,000 or more can rent qualified accommodation, while those on £60,000 or above are eligible to rent or buy property. The measures were initially announced as part of efforts to help businesses recruit skilled workers amid ongoing labour shortages.

Newly released Business Licensing and Employee Status guidance sets out how permissions are granted to people moving to Jersey for work and clarifies how the licensed roles system will operate in practice. Ministers say the document is intended to improve transparency and give both employers and employees a clearer understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

Deputy Carina Alves said the guidance would make the system “clearer and more consistent”, confirming that licensed permissions have been widened to include roles in education, childcare and healthcare. These sectors have faced persistent recruitment difficulties.

While many of these jobs do not meet the new salary thresholds, Deputy Alves said they would still qualify for access to suitable accommodation through licensed permissions, provided they are linked to recognised qualifications.

Under the rules, licensed workers can access qualified rental accommodation if they meet the income threshold or are employed in a role listed as essential. Those earning £60,000 or more can also purchase property. However, these rights apply only while the individual remains in a licensed job. Workers who leave their role are required to vacate their rented or owned property within three months.

Licensed workers are excluded from affordable housing schemes, with appeals allowed only in exceptional circumstances.

Andreea Ghisoi, who represents Jersey’s Romanian community, said the changes could benefit some workers already on the island, particularly those living in poor-quality accommodation. She said a shortage of non-qualified housing had left many people with limited and often substandard options.

She added that some Romanian professionals, including doctors and nurses, had left Jersey after being unable to find suitable homes for their families.

Government officials said the updated guidance aims to strike a balance between supporting essential services and ensuring local workers are prioritised. Deputy Alves stressed that businesses must still demonstrate they have attempted to recruit locally before seeking licensed workers from outside the island.

Ministers hope the clearer framework will help attract skilled staff to key sectors, but critics argue that without addressing the wider affordability crisis, housing pressures will continue to undermine recruitment and retention.