Housing
What are our aims?
- To ensure the provision of safe and healthy accommodation in the Isle of Man.
- To monitor conditions in the Private Sector.
- To enforce legislation in respect of housing accommodation and to set housing standards in the Isle of Man.
- To investigate housing complaints made by the public and to provide advice, information and education in addition to taking action as necessary.
How do we do it?
- Enforcing the law by the inspection of privately rented housing and the enforcement of housing standards.
- Inspecting and registering flats to ensure compliance with current standards.
- Inspecting unfit housing and inspecting Local Authority houses, subject to complaints of public health nuisance.
For further information telephone 01624 685886.
Housing survey shows improvement in private living conditions
A survey into the condition of private housing on the Isle of Man has shown that dramatic improvements have been made since the last survey was completed in 2002.
David Adamson and Partners, on behalf of the former Department of Local Government and the Environment, have completed the latest Private Sector House Condition Survey. The surveying work began in September 2007. DLGE carried out the house condition survey every five years. This is the fifth report since the first survey was carried out in 1984.
The Private Sector House Condition Survey also helps identify areas where additional support for homeowners might be required. It will help DEFA develop policies to target key areas, for example, with grants or other support, to improve living conditions.
John Shimmin, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture said, ‘This survey has helped DEFA to get an accurate picture of the state of private housing on the Island. This is vital information that will help us target assistance where it’s needed most. I’m very grateful to every one of the 1600 households that took part in this important survey.’
John Howie, Manager of the Environmental/Public Health Unit, said, ‘By measuring the overall condition of the Island’s private housing stock we can make comparisons with previous survey results and identify trends. Previous surveys have enabled DEFA to fund new initiatives such as the provision of adequate thermal insulation in houses and the improvement and efficiency of central heating systems.’
The survey has found that policies put in place since 2002 have been successful. Rates of unfitness have declined from 5.8% of private housing stock in 2002 to 3.9% in 2008, and rates of serious disrepair have declined from 13.6% to 10.4%. Our current average SAP (energy efficiency) rating is better than the score in England: 53 compared to 47. There has also been a 27% reduction in private sector housing CO2 emissions since 2002. However, despite improvements the required investment needed to further improve private housing remains significant.
The Environmental/ Public Health Unit is now developing recommendations to help turn the survey’s findings into targeted action points and policies to help address further necessary improvements to the state of private sector housing.
Grants are sometimes made available to address major issues related to disrepair/dampness/lack of basic amenities etc., within owner/occupied dwelling houses and to prevent such houses from deteriorating further. To see if any financial resources are currently available to help private sector housing identified as being either unfit, or in serious disrepair, please click here, grants, for more information.
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