E&I publishes proposed revisions to the Open Market Housing Register legislation to support the introduction of new inscriptions policy

The Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure has today published proposed revisions to the Open Market Housing Register Law in preparation for a new operational policy that clarifies how properties can be added to, or removed from, Part A of the Open Market Housing Register.

This operational policy, referred to as the inscriptions policy, is being progressed following the direction agreed by the States through the Population and Immigration Policy Review and the Government Work Plan, and is also set out in the Guernsey Housing Plan.

Neither the inscriptions policy nor the proposed changes to legislation to bring it into effect remove or reduce any pre-existing rights which an Open Market resident has acquired under existing Population Management or Housing Control laws.

When it comes into effect, the operational policy will provide a transparent process to increase the quality and availability of Open Market Part A homes to better meet demand, while maintaining the stability of both the Open Market and Local Market.

While the operational policy is not being debated by the States of Deliberation, the legislative changes required to bring the policy into effect do need the Assembly's approval. The revised legislation includes a change to the charging mechanism to enable more revenue to be collected by the States for Open Market inscriptions.

The policy has been developed and co-designed with industry stakeholders, including estate agents and property professionals, property developers, Locate Guernsey and the Open Market Forum, as well as being informed by feedback from the Policy & Resources Committee, and the Committees for Economic Development and Home Affairs.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, said:

"For many years now, our Open Market has served as an economic enabler for our island, and as a government we value the significant contribution that many Open Market residents make to our community.

"The number of Open Market Part A inscriptions has reduced over the last decade or so, decreasing the opportunity for our island to benefit. Therefore, as agreed by the States, the aim of this policy when it comes into effect will be to sensitively and carefully improve the availability of Open Market properties while also ensuring that these homes are of suitable quality to meet demand.

"We've co-designed this policy with key industry stakeholders and relevant States Committees to make sure that we've given it thorough consideration from every angle.

"This policy will provide a transparent and equitable process for improving what the Open Market has to offer, while ensuring that the Local Market and government revenues benefit appropriately, especially at a time when there is a particular pressure on States' finances."

The operational policy will come into effect only when the legislation has been approved and sanctioned, at which point applications can be considered, but can be viewed here:

Open Market Inscriptions Policy

P.2025 221 Legislative Changes For The Implementation Of The Open Market Part A Inscriptions Policy