There are no plans currently to take action on private sector rent levels.

This was the assertion of Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas who was responding to a House of Keys question from Ramsey member Lawrie Hooper.

Mr Hooper wanted to know what plans the Minister had ’to address’ rents in the private sector.

But Mr Thomas told him the matter was currently governed by section two of the Housing and Rent Control Act of 1948. ’This allows a tenant to appeal the amount they pay,’ he said, adding he had no plans to change this.

Mr Hooper said he was disappointed no further measures were planned to address high rents and, in some cases a poor standard of accommodation.

But Mr Thomas said statistics relating to those using the existing legislation did not suggest any need for change.

He told Keys out of just five applications made last year under the legislation, none was successful in securing a reduction. Four had failed for a variety of reasons and one had actually resulted in a rent increase, he said.

Onchan MHK and LibVan member Julie Edge voiced concerns about accessibility, pointing out some tenants may be vulnerable and not able to take advantage of existing mechanisms to challenge rent levels, if indeed they were aware of them at all.

Mr Hooper also suggested existing law perhaps needed an urgent review to ensure it was accessible to all.

Mr Thomas acknowledged the current system may not be suitable for everyone but said it was beyond government’s scope to assess housing standards.