Douglas Council will help tenants who have fallen behind with their rental payments, but residents need to help themselves too.

Chairman of the council’s housing committee Councillor Claire Wells told the authority that more than 75 residents are more than £500 in arrears with their rent.

Measures introduced under the Emergency Powers Act ensure that no one can be evicted from either their homes or their business premises for non-payment of rent have been continued.

The measures were created to allow affected tenants respite in the event they were unable to meet their financial obligation to their landlord. Up until December 27, landlords will be prohibited from evicting tenants who are unable to pay their rent.

Mrs Wells said the housing department was ’not entirely sure residents are aware of the problem they’re creating’ by sliding further into debt, which has to be repaid.

She said there are currently 78 residents who are more than £500 behind on their rent and warned: ’The Department of Infrastructure will not be writing off any rent arrears for anyone.’

She added that the council’s housing authority didn’t want to evict anyone and would work with tenants to create payments plans to ensure money can be paid back in affordable levels.

Mrs Wells asked for any residents who know they are in arrears, but have not yet set up a payment plan, to contact the council.

She said: ’We’re here to help, you just need to come forward. There is no help coming from anywhere else.’

Council leader David Christian said he had asked the DoI to confirm the position on rent arrears for all local housing tenants across the island, that they must pay what they owe. He also praised the council’s staff for attempting to reach those who are known to be in arrears.