Savills Portugal

The lifestyle on offer in Jersey ensures the island remains a popular choice for many would-be homebuyers. However, for those who want to relocate it's important to understand how the property market differs from other countries.

Fundamentally Jersey has two types of property – ‘qualified’ and ‘non-qualified’. ‘Non-qualified’ homes make up a small proportion of residential property on the island. But there are no employment or wealth requirements. Subject to the usual process of due diligence they can be bought by anyone in the UK or abroad.

The vast majority of properties on Jersey are available through the ‘qualified’ market – and potential homeowners must meet certain criteria in order to make a purchase.

First, they must get a registration card, which includes details of their name, social security number and residential and employment status (you also need one if you already live on the island and want to move to a new home, whether bought or rented, or start a new job).

Buyers qualify for residency according to local connections, essential employment or tax contribution and there are four residential statuses that determine where they can live and work. These are:

Entitled: Someone who has lived in Jersey for 10 years. They can buy, sell or lease any property on the island and work anywhere without requiring permission to be employed.
Licensed: Someone who is an ‘essential employee’. They can buy, sell or lease any property, apart from first-time buyer restricted or social rented housing, in their own name if they keep their ‘licensed’ status. An employer needs permission to employ a ‘licensed’ person.
Entitled for work: Someone who has lived in Jersey for five consecutive years, 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 they can lease ‘registered’ property as a main place of residence. They are able to work anywhere and don’t need permission to be employed.
Registered: Someone who does not qualify under the other categories. They can lease ‘registered’ property as a main place of residence and an employer needs permission to employ them.

Jersey’s Chief Minister can grant ‘entitled’ status to a high-value resident if they are satisfied that doing so will have a social or economic benefit and it is in the best interests of the community. If ‘entitled’ status is granted, you can buy or lease property in Jersey as your main place of residence on the island. The Population Office normally requires that you buy or lease a high-value property. Generally, this is a property valued in excess of £1.75m.

Once residency requirements have been met, there is a superb choice of property on offer, ranging from chic apartments and cottages to traditional granite farmhouses and sizeable estates.

Featured below are some of our favourite ‘qualified’ homes currently on the market.