Onchan Commissioners have recommended that rates for social housing rent should not increase.

The Department of Infrastructure asked all local authorities in the island for their views on rent rises for the 2018/19 year, to which the Onchan’s board has now responded.

The authority says that significant rises imposed in previous years and other challenges facing tenants earning a low or fixed income influenced the decision made at the meeting.

The commissioners have often voted in favour of either no rent rise despite being aware that social housing rents have increased by over 35% since 2012.

Anthony Allen, chairman of the commissioners, said: ’We realise that any rent rise will cause real hardship for a great number of our tenants, especially those who have only pensions or state benefits to rely on.

’Rent rises take a substantial amount of the household budget and it must be acknowledged that the increased use of the food bank is an indicator of how many people on this island are now seriously struggling to make ends meet.

’One way of helping these households is by not putting an extra burden on funds by increasing rents again next year, and that’s why we, the board of Onchan Commissioners, recommend that rents be frozen.’