Landlords in Guernsey have warned that new minimum standards brought in this week to make rental homes safer will spark a PRS exodus.
The island's new Housing Standards law means landlords must provide safe drinking water, ensure buildings are structurally sound and comply with fire safety requirements.
A Housing Health and Safety Rating System will also come into effect to assess the impact of hazards such as damp and mould, excess heat and cold, lighting and risk of falls.
However, chairman of the Guernsey Landlords Association, Jeff Guilbert (pictured) says four or five landlords a month are already leaving the sector and believes the cost of complying with the new laws could prompt others to follow.
“The bottom line is we’re all running a business, and, at the moment, our target area is 6% gross, but it’s getting less and less,” Guilbert tells the BBC.
“Guernsey is a high cost for rental and that’s reflected because of the high cost of property. All these things, if we have to implement them, are just going to push the cost up.”
Guilbert is also worried about the availability of people to carry out checks and feels private landlords are being unfairly targeted. “It technically applies to the private owner-occupier. I don’t think any checks will be done on them,” he adds.
The legislation is part of measures to tackle Guernsey’s housing pressures. The States explains that they are being introduced so less serious issues can be addressed without the need for heavy enforcement. Tobin Cook, director of environmental health and pollution regulation, says the move is a crucial step to improving the quality of homes in Guernsey’s rental market.
“This legislation provides a proportionate way to work with landlords to see the quality of our housing stock improve across the island, making more homes available to be safely lived in,” he adds.
Picture credits: BBC/Shutterstock
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