Jersey’s private rental sector shrank by nearly 80 properties over the past year – with landlords blaming a mix of market pressures and policy change.
Released just last week, the latest House Price Index report included for the first time detailed information around the estimated net change in the number of properties within the private rental sector.
It showed that there was a net loss of 64 rental properties in 2025, as well as a further loss of 19 in the first quarter of 2026.
Over the 12 months to March 2026, there was a total loss of 77 private rental units.
The publication of the latest House Price Index report comes not long after changes to the island’s residential tenancy legislation came into force in April – although the figures only cover until March.
The Residential Tenancy (Jersey) Amendment Law was approved by the States Assembly in September, following a landmark debate that initially kicked off in July but was pushed back to give Scrutiny extra time to review the proposals.
The various changes include stopping landlords from raising rent more than once a year and limiting rent increases to the rate of inflation (RPI), limiting the use of fixed-term tenancies and allowing tenants to challenge unfair rent hikes through a new Rent Tribunal.
Before last year’s debate, the Jersey Landlords Association warned of “unintended consequences” that could be triggered by certain aspects of the new legislation if it was approved.
At the time, the JLA stated that surveys of its members indicated “widespread concern” and that “over 90% oppose the reforms, with almost 70% considering selling some rental properties if implemented”.
Following the States Assembly’s decision, Mr Morris told Express that the Association respected the democratic process and would work with its members to help them “adjust” to the changes.
A reduction of 77 private rental units represents around a 0.7% decrease in the private rental market
Q1 2026 House Price Index
The recent House Price Index report noted that property transactions in the 12-month period from the second quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of this year “resulted in a decrease of 77 private rental units”.
It stated: “At the time of the 2021 census, there were 10,739 occupied qualified private rental units, meaning a reduction of 77 private rental units represents around a 0.7% decrease in the private rental market.”
Speaking to Express about the latest figures, Mr Morris claimed “the only reason those figures aren’t more substantial is because the market is so bad at the moment”, pointing to mortgage and interest rates as some of the relevant factors.
Asked how much of the drop in private rental units he believed was driven by concerns over the new legislation, Mr Morris added: “It’s really difficult to tell – we don’t have any visibility on what those transactions were. It could have been things that happened a year ago or two years ago.”
However, he said that his “best guess” was that more than half of those “getting out” were doing so “because of government policy changes”.
But Mr Morris also contended that a continued exit of landlords “may not play out”, noting the impending switch of government, potential for economic change and stating that “people may decide it’s not the right time to sell”.