Jersey’s housing minister has accused his politician colleagues of “dirty tricks” after they delayed a vote on rent controls.

Deputy Sam Mézec (main picture) was frustrated by a decision of the island’s States Assembly to refer the issue to a scrutiny panel before making a decision.

The Assembly was asked to vote on plans to limit rent increases to inflation (RPI) or 5%, BBC News reports.

The new rules would limit rent rises to once a year, and renters would also be able to challenge rent hikes through a Rent Tribunal.

I knew there would be dirty tricks pulled.”

Mézec said: “Members were too cowardly to decide one way or another which way they wanted to go, so they decided to delay making a decision until after the summer instead.

“I knew there would be dirty tricks pulled. This is what happens when you have politicians who don’t have the courage of their convictions, I think the public will be in despair watching this kind of thing,” he said.

“It’s another example of government working inefficiently because of bad decisions made by States members.”

Dismissed

Mézec had previously dismissed warnings of a ‘doomsday’ exodus of landlords from the private rented sector if rent controls were introduced.

He said the proposed rent cap was “as moderate as you can possibly get”, and was needed to protect tenants.

“If landlords are exiting the market, those homes don’t disappear into thin air,” he said.

Main picture: Jersey Evening Post

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