Housing law 'unfair' says deputy

Jersey's housing laws are not "fair", said a deputy campaigning for greater human rights awareness in the island.

Deputy Bob Hill said current restrictions on who can live in Jersey and what category of house people are qualified for were "discriminatory".

At the moment someone has to live in Jersey for 12 years before being eligible to buy property.

But the home affairs minister said the island had to be "realistic" about its population growth.

Why should someone be given the right to rent when others don't have that right? Deputy Bob Hill

Mr Hill said: "I've never been happy with our housing law, it is discriminatory.

"Why should someone be deemed, because of their work or the role they're playing in the island, be given the right to rent when others don't have that right?

"I don't really think the laws are fair."

Senator Ian Le Marquand agreed the housing law was not "absolutely right at the moment" but said people had to be "realistic".

He said: "We have a small island and if anybody could come in and buy and live here we could be overrun by wealthy people.

"Local people would be pushed off their island home.

"It is a very difficult balance to get right."

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