Acceptance criteria - public housing

From 1 June 2019 the criteria for general needs housing will change for all housing authorities on the Island. The new criteria is available to read in the downloadable document on the right hand side.

All housing authorities on the Island apply a common approach for acceptance on to housing waiting lists. A leaflet explaining the common criteria is available (see downloadable documents). You should note, in particular, that applicants must be aged 18 or over and have been a resident on the Island for a total of at least 10 years, 3 of which must have been spent in the area they are applying to. For example, an applicant who has lived on the Island for 10 years, of which 4 were spent living in Onchan, would apply to Onchan District Commissioners.

Combined waiting lists

The Housing Division along with the Northern, Southern and Eastern Local Authorities are now operating shared lists. You can download the application forms to join the combined list along with FAQs which sets out the advantages for applicants of the combined list.

Northern Area FAQ

Eastern Area FAQ

Southern Area FAQ

Application form and guidance notes

Northern region

Eastern region

Southern region

Note – applicants living in Onchan and Peel should apply to the housing authority in these areas. To obtain a form from another housing authority, please see the contact list below:

Fixed Term Tenancies

In 2014, the Department of Infrastructure implemented Fixed Term Tenancies for new public sector housing tenants. All new tenancies will be fixed for a period of five years. A fixed term tenancy will provide a natural contract break where the terms of the tenancy can be re-evaluated according to the tenants housing need and eligibility at that time. It gives all public sector housing providers the opportunity to update details of the households and check for continue eligibility for tenants in public sector housing. Existing weekly tenancies will be renewed where there has been a change in your circumstances, for example an increase or decrease in household and the new terms will apply.

Points scheme

A points system is applied with regard to the allocation of properties, in which applicants are awarded points in accordance with their needs. However, being allocated a home also depends on the area you have applied for, the popularity of the area and the number of homes available for allocation. Therefore, the number of points needed may vary. Points will be reviewed annually using a review form completed by applicants. They are awarded for a variety of circumstances, and these are covered in the leaflet Criteria for Allocation of Properties: Pointing System, (see downloadable documents).

Support for housing form

Points are available with regard to the adequacy of an applicant's present accommodation. This applies to:

• unfit housing (this must be certified by Environmental Health)
• statutory overcrowding (this must be certified by Environmental Health) and
• unfit in respect of health/welfare considerations (this must be supported by an appropriate health/welfare professional).

To demonstrate any of the above 3 scenarios it is necessary to complete a support for housing form, which is available from the documents section on the top right side of this page. It is important to read the guidance notes, also in the documents section, before submitting the form to the relevant housing authority.

Negative points

Negative points can be issued in certain cases such as unjustified refusal of a property, and existing public or private sector rent arrears.