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Peel Commissioners object to rent increase proposals

Fri, 21 Sep 2018

Peel Town Commissioners have joined a growing number of local authorities in recommending there should be no increase in housing rents.

At a meeting in the Town Hall on Derby Road last night (20 Sep), members mulled over an invitation by the Department for Infrastructure.

It wants local authorities to suggest a ‘suitable rise’ for the local government-run properties, offering rates of inflation as a point of reference.

Commissioner Hazel Hannan suggested there should be no increase, a view supported by Commissioner Ian Davison, who said ‘social housing should be there for those who are struggling’.

Both agreed that many in the properties couldn’t keep up with increasing costs, particularly in the context of slow wage growth over the last few years.

Echoing these sentiments, chair of the Board Christine Moughtin, said ‘ for once, it would be nice if tenants were the winners not the loosers’.

A vote was held and the majority of the board agreed that rents should be frozen. Peel Town Commissioners join Castletown and Onchan in opposing a rise.

Ewan Gawne - Local Democracy Reporter

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