The Government of Jersey has published updated guidance on business licensing and work permissions under the Control of Housing and Work Law. While these changes are designed to support employers with recruitment, they also have implications for who may rent or buy qualified property in Jersey.

The updates clarify eligibility criteria, salary thresholds and qualifying roles, helping employers and employees better understand how work permissions interact with housing status.

What Has Changed

According to the updated government guidance published in November 2025:

Expanded list of qualifying roles

The Government has published an expanded list of occupations that may qualify for Licensed or Licensed Lease Only permissions even where the usual salary thresholds are not met.
These include specific roles in healthcare, education, childcare and other essential services, subject to defined conditions such as qualifications, job titles and minimum salaries.

This clarification reflects the Government’s intention to support recruitment in key sectors while maintaining controls on housing access.

Clearer salary thresholds

The guidance confirms the following benchmarks, where applicable:

• Licensed Lease Only permission may be granted where a role meets the relevant criteria, including a salary threshold of £54,000 per annum (or the “going rate” for the role), or where the role appears on the qualifying occupation list.

• Licensed permission may be granted where a role meets the relevant criteria, including a salary threshold of £60,000 per annum (or the “going rate”), or where the role appears on the qualifying occupation list.

Whether an individual is granted Licensed or Licensed Lease Only status depends on their specific role, salary, hours and employment conditions, as assessed through the business licensing process.

Minimum working hours

The guidance confirms that roles qualifying for Licensed or Licensed Lease Only status must generally involve more than 25 hours per week, rather than the previous 30-hour benchmark.

Status remains role-dependent

The Government is clear that Licensed and Licensed Lease Only permissions are linked to the individual’s employment. The right to occupy qualified accommodation applies only while the individual continues to hold the relevant status.

What This Means for the Housing Market

Access to qualified accommodation

Where an individual holds Licensed or Licensed Lease Only status, they may rent (and in some cases buy) qualified property, subject to the conditions of their permission.

These changes do not alter housing supply, but they do provide greater clarity on who may lawfully access the qualified market.

Implications for landlords and tenants

For landlords of qualified accommodation, the updated guidance helps reduce uncertainty around eligibility.
For tenants, it provides clearer information on how employment status affects housing options, particularly for those working in essential services.

How This Relates to Amarone, Merchant Square

At Maillard & Co, we are seeing interest from professionals who meet the updated criteria set out in the Government guidance.

Homes at Amarone, within the wider Merchant Square area, are qualified properties and may therefore be suitable for individuals who hold the appropriate housing status under the Control of Housing and Work framework.

Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and prospective tenants should always ensure their status aligns with the type of property they wish to occupy.

What to Consider Going Forward

If you are:

• An employee relocating to Jersey,

• An employer applying for work permissions,

• Or a tenant or landlord dealing with qualified accommodation,

it is important to understand how work permissions and housing status interact, and to refer directly to the Government’s published guidance.

For advice on housing options, eligibility, or current qualified listings, our team at Maillard & Co is happy to help explain how the framework applies in practice — while ensuring decisions remain fully aligned with Government policy.