Guernsey’s top policy committee is being pressed to accelerate its examination of relocation allowances provided to people moving to the island for work with the States of Guernsey. The review was originally scheduled to conclude by the end of September 2025 but remains incomplete, prompting concerns about the impact on the local housing market.
Deputy Tom Rylatt of Forward Guernsey has called for P&R to make the review a priority, expressing disappointment over the continued delay. P&R President Lindsay de Sausmarez acknowledged that “several stages of work on the review have been completed” and indicated the committee would reconsider the matter shortly. She attributed the postponement to other demands on the committee, including tax system reforms and preparation of the 2027 budget.
The Scrutiny Management Committee has linked the relocation grants to elevated rental costs in Guernsey. The current program provides qualifying relocating employees with a £5,000 grant (£6,600 for Alderney) along with assistance covering rental costs for up to four years, storage expenses, and in certain circumstances, support for mortgage payments on unsold properties. Additional grants are available for home purchases and short-term recruits.
Rental prices on the island have increased 65% over the past decade, reaching an average of £2,138 monthly. According to a freedom of information request, the States expended more than £5 million on relocation packages in 2025, the highest amount since the program’s inception. Scrutiny Management Committee President Andy Sloan characterized the existing policy as “excessive,” arguing that such subsidies likely drive up local rental market rates.
P&R officials stated the review would assess various relocation support alternatives using workforce and financial data. Any modifications would need to consider potential cost savings against the necessity of recruiting and retaining workers in critical sectors including healthcare, education, social services, and law enforcement. Officials indicated the review document would likely remain internal, though any resulting policy changes would be publicly communicated.
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