The Department of Infrastructure has told its tenants that they won’t be able to pay their rents in cash at the post office anymore.

This will come into effect from April 1.

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse said: ’This change appears to be targeting the oldest, the poorest and the most vulnerable people in the island.

’Many constituents who pay their rent out of choice, necessity or simple convenience are shocked and asking for support. They are really concerned about what realistic solution there is for them.

’The Post Office, which met with the Department of Infrastructure about upcoming changes, appear very surprised by the announcement and one sub post master stated "a lot of people use the service, many of whom do not have bank accounts, and they said it was causing some of those regular customers some distress as they don’t know what to do to solve the problem".

’It will be interesting to know when the minister was informed of the proposed change and if he challenged it.’

This was announced shortly after the release of the access to cash report by government, which sought to improve the island’s cash access for residents, charities and businesses.

Published by the Department for Enterprise, it followed a cash review of the island and concluded with a number of recommendations for further attention, for which the department has proposed a number of ’ongoing actions’.

It emphasised the need to monitor the 50 cash points in the island, which is 5.9 cash points per 100,000 residents, while the UK has 7.9.

The government said it needs to work to prevent any gaps that may emerge.

It also highlighted the need for ’enhanced’ cashback services.

Within the report, it states that ’there will still be members of our community who choose to continue to use physical currency and some, who for a range of reasons, may not be able to access realistic alternatives’.

Mr Moorhouse described the move as ’heartless’, being this news emerged on the same day the access to cash report was released.

He added: ’It has been suggested that [the Post Office wasn’t informed] before the letters were sent out.’

The MHK will also be asking what the DoI cost saving will be and how much the Post Office receved for the service in each of the last three years.

When asked if money was its reasoning, Mr Moorhouse said: ’Despite the suggestion on the "how to pay your rent" part of the letter, Social Security has confirmed it isn’t that simple and will require individual assessments.

’In the how to pay your rent advice section the only reference to cash is don’t send it by post.’