Council tenant rent payments to be standardised

Rents payments are set to be simplified and standardised for public sector housing tenants in the Manx capital from 7 April, the local authority has said.

The change would see rent payments calculated over a 52 week period rather than the existing 50 week period.

Chairman of Douglas Council's Housing and Communities Board Devon Watson said it would provide a "more straightforward yet flexible way to pay and collect rent".

The change would also offer the option for tenants to increase their payments to take a two week rent break during a particular time of year.

Watson said as there was now a "wide range" of payment options, there was "no longer any need to divide a year into a 50 week collection system", which dated back to when payments were made in cash.

It means tenants would pay the weekly rent instead of the previously inflated rent that was required to cover two non-collection weeks at the end of the year, which the authority said would help households with budget management.

Under the changes, existing interval choices such as weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, monthly or yearly rent payments would remain the same.

As more than 60% of tenants already paid over 52 weeks, the move would standardise the approach, the councillor said.

The change would also reduce the council's £228,755 rent arrears figure, some of which has been caused by the confusion between the 50 and 52 week system, he said.

Watson said: "This is all about providing a more straightforward yet flexible way to pay and collect rent, with the main purpose to better assist families with their budget management across a full year, alongside the benefit of offering a 'rent holiday' for those who want it.

"Essentially, it places control back in the hands of our tenants,"

Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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