Falling between building levels a common hazard

The risk of falling between levels of a building, electric shocks and fires are the most common hazards found by inspectors reviewing rental homes in Jersey.

A new report from the government's Planning and Building Department revealed the findings from investigations at 716 homes between 1 May 2025 and 30 April. Some were random checks, while others came following tenant complaints.

Of the properties inspected, 129 were found to have safety concerns, with 253 hazards found in total.

Of those, 66 homes failed basic safety checks to make sure people did not fall between levels, and 42 had electrical hazards. Fire hazards were found in 24 homes.

It added that the number of inspections finding hazards has dropped to 18% in this period, compared with 40% in 2024-25.

Ever since the Rented Dwelling Licensing Scheme was introduced in 2024, landlords have been legally required to hold a licence for each home they rent out in Jersey.

That way, all properties could meet the standards required under the Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Jersey) Law 2018, officials said.

The purpose of the report was to make sure all properties on the island met those standards. Those which do not risk having their licence withdrawn, they added.

It meant tenants were better protected and landlords could benefit from clear standards and guidance, the report said.

It added: "These results provide valuable insight into the types and frequency of hazards present in Jersey's rental housing stock.

"The data will play a key role in shaping future risk-based inspection strategies, helping to target resources more effectively and improve housing conditions across the island."

Follow BBC Jersey on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.