91Èȱ¬

Jersey's housing minister has said a provision allowing some landlords to charge higher rents should be removed.

At the moment some landlords in the private sector can charge more than the recommended rent levels.

The rules were put in place to encourage the private sector to offer more properties for rent to reduce pressures on social housing.

Deputy Sean Power said tenants should not sign a lease with rent above the recommended levels.

He said: "They shouldn't be allowed to opt out and the tenants shouldn't sign it because once they do that they can't come back to the rent control tribunal.

"Then again the rent control tribunal, which hasn't sat for three years, is probably something that hasn't worked, as Senator le Marquand said to me, it is probably something that is a toothless wonder."

Senator Francis Le Gresley, former head of the Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau, said the provision had led to large rent increases and left some islanders struggling to afford accommodation.