Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is a self-governing British Crown Dependency with its own financial and legal systems and its own courts of law.

Overview

Jersey property law is derived from a mixture of local statute and customary (common) law. Jersey's customary law has evolved from Norman-French law and is primarily contained in the judgments of the Royal Court of Jersey and the writings of local and French jurists.

In Jersey law property is either "movable" or "immovable". These classifications are broadly similar to the English classifications as "personal" or "real" property.

Land in Jersey, together with any buildings or dwellings that may be constructed on the land, constitute immovable property. There are also certain other interests in land such as leases for a term in excess of nine years that are also deemed by law to be immovable property.

Please download our briefing for an overview of:

  • Types of property ownership
  • The property market in Jersey
  • Liabilities of purchasers and sellers
  • Formalities of sales and purchase of immovable property
  • Taxes on property
  • Housing control

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.