Knowledge

The Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025 (the "New Law") comes into force on 15 April 2026. The New Law substantially changes the manner in which residential tenancies are regulated in Jersey.

Previously, residential tenancies have been principally regulated by the Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Law 2011 (the "2011 Law"). A large proportion of the 2011 Law will remain in place. However, the New Law:

• imposes greater restrictions on the termination of residential tenancies;
• controls rent increases;
• creates additional obligations for landlords regarding the condition of premises and insurance obligations; and
• makes periodic tenancies the default position.

Application to existing tenancies

Existing fixed term tenancies (entered into before 15 April 2026) will generally continue under the 2011 Law until the fixed term tenancy ends. Where an existing tenancy is renewed, varied or replaced, then the tenancy will need to comply with the New Law.

Existing periodic tenancies automatically become subject to the New Law.

Term of a tenancy under the New Law

It is permissible for either fixed term or periodic tenancies to be entered into under the New Law. 

A tenancy's initial fixed term cannot exceed three years. Once the initial fixed term of a tenancy expires, the tenancy must either end or convert to a periodic tenancy.

Fixed term tenancies

Under the New Law, a landlord cannot grant a series of fixed term tenancies (even if those fixed terms do not cumulatively exceed three years). 

A fixed term tenancy will convert into a periodic tenancy if notice is not given in advance of the expiry of the fixed term. In order for the landlord to terminate the tenancy on the fixed-term expiry, they need to give not less than three months' notice. For the tenant to terminate the tenancy on the fixed-term expiry, they need to give not less than one month's notice.

If notice is served before the fixed term expiry, but less than the required notice is given, then the term is automatically extended to cater for the full amount of the notice.

Fixed term tenancies may be terminated within the fixed term itself where the tenancy agreement includes a break right and the break is exercised in accordance with the conditions of the agreement. Break rights are subject to a minimum notice requirement (three months where the notice is served by the landlord and one month where notice is served by the tenant).

Termination of tenancies – agreement

Tenancies can be terminated by agreement of the parties at any time.

Termination of tenancies – periodic tenancies

Periodic tenancies can be terminated by the landlord "without reason" on not less than one year's notice.
The tenant may terminate a periodic tenancy on one month's notice, without needing to fall within any specified grounds.

Termination of tenancies – specified reason

Additionally, landlords can terminate tenancies in certain circumstances ("with reason"). The specified grounds on which a landlord may terminate a tenancy with reason are laid out in the New Law. The length of notice which a landlord needs to give to terminate the tenancy depends on the circumstances and the type of tenancy.

The relevant notice periods can be summarised as follows.

In the summary table, some notice periods are specified to be "three or six months". The length of the notice depends on the total duration of the tenancy:

• if the tenancy has lasted for less than five years then the landlord must give three months' notice; or
• if the tenancy has lasted for five years or more then the landlord must give six months' notice.

Rent increases

The New Law governs the manner in which rent can be increased. Generally, rent may only increase:

• once in every 12 month period;
• following not less than two months' written notice from the landlord; and
• to a maximum of the increase in the Jersey Retail Prices Index.

There are exceptions included in the New Law which allow the rent to be increased where the rent is significantly below market rent or improvements (which benefit the tenant) have been carried out to the premises. Where the landlord is seeking to rely on an exception, the landlord will need to give information surrounding the calculation to the tenant.

A new rent tribunal has been set up to arbitrate disputes relating to rent under residential tenancies. Tenants can make an application to the rent tribunal where the landlord's notice was incorrectly served or the tenant disputes the basis of the rent review.

The tenant has two months and two weeks to apply to the rent tribunal following receipt of the notice of the rent review.

It is intended that landlords will also be required to provide rent information in relation to their properties to the Minister for Housing. This provision has not yet been enacted.

Uninhabitable premises

A tenant will not be required to pay rent where premises are declared uninhabitable. However, the rent suspension will not apply where the condition of the premises is due to the tenant's reckless or intentional behaviour or the landlord provides suitable alternative temporary accommodation.

Insurance

The New Law requires landlords to insure premises. The tenancy agreement must include such obligation on the landlord.

Tenants will not be required to put contents insurance in place. However, a tenant may be obliged to maintain contents insurance under the tenancy agreement.

For more information, or for guidance in relation to your obligations, please get in touch with your usual Bedell Cristin contact or one of the contacts listed.