Douglas Council wants more control over rental income

Douglas Councillors have proposed that local authorities should have more control over their rental income.

The chair of the housing committee Claire Wells says spending limits put in place by the Department of Infrastructure aren’t helping the Council bring its ‘aging stock up to standard’.

Deficiencies payments of around £6 million are paid to providers by the government to cover the shortfall between the cost of investment in housing and rental income.

Restrictions are currently in place on what authorities can be spent from this income, such as a 24% cap on maintenance.

Mrs Wells says the Council needs these limits removed or increased to allow money to be invested in a more flexible manner.