Buying a property can be challenging, even for seasoned property owners and can be especially daunting for first time buyers. Our Buyer’s Guide contains everything you need to know about purchasing a property in Jersey, so that you can be confident throughout the whole process of buying your dream home.
Mortgages & Finances
The first step to buying your home should be a visit to your bank or a reputable mortgage advisor. This will allow you to identify how much you can afford to spend on your new home. There is a wide selection of mortgage brokers in Jersey, which gives you the opportunity to shop around and get the best deal for you. You will need to explain your income and financial commitments, so ensure that you have these details ready for the meeting.
When considering finances, remember to take into account the extra costs you will incur such as bank fees, surveyor’s fees, legal fees, stamp duty and general moving expenses.
For a trusted local mortgage provider, contact:
The Mortgage Shop
01534 789830
www.mortgageshop.je
Santander International
01534 885000
www.santanderinternational.co.uk
Skipton International
01534 509501
www.skiptoninternational.com
Follow These Easy Steps to Find your Dream Home
Kick start your search by registering with Thompson Estates today. By registering with us you can rest assured that we’ll help you find what you’re looking for.
Start thinking about your ‘wish list’ and once we have a clear understanding of your requirements we will keep you up-to-date with the latest properties.
You can also keep in touch with your assigned Negotiator by phone, text or email so they can alert you as soon as they hear of a property matching your criteria, before it even comes on the market.
Call us on: 01534 888855
Visit our offices on King Street
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Jersey Housing Qualifications
Under the ‘Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012’ there are four categories which determine where you can work and live.
Under the control of the ‘Housing and Work Law’ there are four new categories which determine where you can work and live. The current qualifying period for obtaining housing qualifications is 10 years. All existing qualified categories are known as ‘Freehold, Flying Freehold, Leasehold & Share Transfer.’ All other property is ‘Registered’ which is also known as ‘Non qualified.’
Regulations are broken down into the following categories:
Entitled: This is an individual who has lived on the Island for 10 years or more, who can buy, lease or sell any property.
Licensed: This is an individual who is an essential employee, meaning they are critical to the essential functioning of work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. They can buy, sell or lease any property apart from assisted purchase or social rented housing.
Entitled for work: This is an individual who has lived in Jersey for five consecutive years immediately before the date the card is issued, or is married to someone who is ‘Entitled’, ‘Licensed’, or ‘Entitled for work’. They can buy property jointly with an ‘Entitled’ spouse / civil partner and can lease ‘Registered’ property as a main place of residence.
Registered: This is an individual who does not qualify for any of the above categories. They can buy or lease a ‘Registered’ property as their main place of residence.
View our Jersey Housing Qualifications guide to find out more about residential statuses and what they mean.
First Time Buyers
What is a first time buyer?
A first time buyer is someone who has never owned property before. If you’re a first time buyer, you can receive certain perks that help get you on the property ladder.
You are a first time buyer if you:
- Have ‘Entitled’ residential status
- Plan to buy property with an ‘Entitled’ spouse or civil partner
- Have never owned a house or flat anywhere in the world (whether on your own or with someone else)
What if you already own a property?
There are certain circumstances where you might be considered a first time buyer, even if you already own property.
If you own a flying freehold flat or a share transfer flat you will count as a first time buyer if you:
- Sell your flat to another first time buyer
- Buy a property larger than your current home, e.g. if you're moving from a two bedroom flat to a three bedroom house
If you have owned land your circumstances are considered individually by the Housing Minister, for example if you have:
- Inherited agricultural land
- Joint inheritance with siblings or family property
- Other general minor land / property ownership
Your circumstances are considered individually by the Housing Minister.
In all cases, before you consider making a purchase, contact us to discuss your status as a first time buyer.
First time buyer stamp duty:
Stamp Duty & Land Transaction Tax
First, use our handy Stamp Duty Calculator to work out how much you will need to pay in addition to the asking price. You can find the calculator on each of our property listings.
On top of this amount, there is an additional £80 registration fee in all cases and a £20 Jurat’s fee applicable to freehold rather than share transfer purchases (since you do not need to pass share sales through the Royal Court). It is the value of the property that is assessed, rather than the price, so transactions for an undervalue will incur Stamp Duty at the rate applicable to the open market value of the property.
It is important to remember that Stamp Duty or Land Transaction Tax (LLT) is also payable on the amount of any mortgage taken out to finance the transaction (either by way of what is known as ‘hypothec’ over a freehold property, or a ‘security interest’ over the shares relating to the share transfer property).
The stamp duty or LLT rate for such borrowings is generally 0.5% plus an £80 registration fee.
The Key to Successful Viewings
We’re available at times to suit you, convenient after work and on weekends:
Our offices are open at the following times:
Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 5.30pm
Friday 8.30am – 5pm
Our negotiators are also available on their mobiles, 7 days a week.
In order to secure a property, we recommend an early viewing. We will always accompany your viewings, ensuring that we are on hand to answer any questions immediately and advise where necessary.
Inspect each property thoroughly, don’t be afraid to ask for a second or third viewing at different times of the day, taking into consideration how the sunlight or traffic may affect the property.
Making an Offer
Consider the price you wish to offer and your Negotiator will then put your offer forward to the vendor.
Don’t forget to mention if you have a mortgage agreed in principle, if you are a cash purchaser, or there is no ongoing property chain in the transaction, as your offer could be more appealing to the vendor.
