The Jersey Homes Trust (JHT) was set up in 1995 as a not-for-profit body to provide social rented housing for Island residents in need. Since then the Trust has developed and acquired over 740 new homes spread over 20 developments. Most of these are in the town area but there are several in outlying parishes. The JHT is now the largest private-sector residential landlord in Jersey.

The JHT has borrowed over £100 million from local banks to fund its developments. It borrows money on a project-by-project basis, typically over a 25-year period, to purchase and build its homes. Each development is supported and approved by the Housing Minister. All the land is protected by covenants to ensure its future use for social rented housing. It is the policy of the States to foster and support the work of housing trusts and over the years the Trust has received substantial subsidies from the States to assist it in meeting the cost of some of its loan interest and also, in some cases, capital grants towards site acquisition or development costs where these are particularly high.

Under its agreement with the States, tenants of JHT properties enjoy the same rent as those levied by the States Housing Department for equivalent properties. Also, the Housing Department is able to nominate tenants for JHT homes. In the case of new developments the Department nominates eighty per cent of the tenants, drawn from its waiting list. The other 20% are allocated to people who apply directly to the Trust.

The JHT does not employ any staff. Management of the properties and all maintenance and repairs associated with them is outsourced. This ensures that costs are kept to a minimum thus providing a value-for-money service to the Island of Jersey.

As a landlord of social rented housing, the JHT is acutely aware of its responsibilities towards people in all sectors of society. Several of its homes are specially adapted for people who have individual living requirements. These can range from fairly minor adaptations, such as wide doors to enable wheelchair access, to specially constructed units for people with severe disabilities.

The JHT is run by a board of seven Trustees, all of whom are active, professional people who give their time without charge.