Douglas Council to make social housing rent collection more 'flexible'

Local authority will take payments over 52 weeks instead of 50

Douglas Council claims a new mode of rent collection will offer more flexibility for its social housing tenants from April. 

The local authority will take payments over 52 weeks rather than the current 50-week period.

Tenants will also be offered the chance to take a two-week rent break if required and if there is sufficient credit to cover the balance. 

The council says it will better assist families with ‘budget management’.

Chair of the Council’s Housing and Property Committee Councillor Devon Watson said: "Nowadays, of course, there are a wide range of payment options, including the very popular direct debit, online payments, phone payments, standing orders and the Isle of Man Government’s social security direct pay, so there is no longer any need to divide a year into a 50-week collection system.

"The yearly rent amount will also be the same and payments will simply be calculated over 52 weeks rather than 50.

"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."

A detailed explanation of the change, and potential benefits of the new approach, will be sent to all tenants next month and put in the council's housing newsletter.

The new measures will be introduced from the week beginning 7 April.