Buying or leasing property in Jersey is a process governed by a strict set of laws.
The original Housing Law of 1949 established the Housing Committee (now known as the Population Department) whose role, in short, is "to administer matters relating to the housing of the Island’s population" and means that anyone wishing to buy or lease property is required to have the consent of the committee. Furthermore, in 1970, the states devised the Housing Regulations in order to aid the Committee with the administration of the law and to help ease the demand for residential property in the Island, which had, already, well exceeded supply.
The current qualifying period for obtaining housing qualifications is 11 years.
In general regulations are broken down into four categories:
A-H Category
’Locally Qualified’ Born in Jersey, gained by satisfying the minimum residence qualifying years etc.
J Category
’Essentially Employed’ on licence via an employer
K Category
On grounds of social or economic status
Non-Qualified
For all other persons who do not fit into any of the above categories