Peel and Onchan are the latest local authorities to recommend a zero rent rise for their housing tenants.

Onchan commissioners made the recommendation after being asked by the Department of Infrastructure for their opinion on a rent rise for the coming year.

Commissioners said they had ’no hesitation’ in recommending the rent stayed unchanged and in a letter to the department, noted social housing rents had increased far in excess of wage and benefit rises over the last six years. In addition, people on fixed incomes such as pensioners had seen only modest benefit increases, which had not kept pace with inflation.

Commissioners noted the hardship caused by increases of approximately 44% across the board since 2012/13, as was the fact that wage increases for the same period were unlikely to reach 10 per cent.

Commissioners’ chairman, Martin Macfarlane, said: ’Our debate was notably brief, with all members recognising the financial burden caused by the department repeatedly imposing annual rent increases above the rate of inflation over the last few years. We each know of cases where families or our older residents are struggling to make ends meet, and without hesitation we recommend to the minister that there be no rent increase in 2019/20.’

Peel Town Commissioners have also recommended there should be no increase in housing rents.

At their meeting, members considered the DoI’s invitation to suggest a ’suitable rise’ for the local government-run properties, offering rates of inflation as a point of reference. But commissioner Hazel Hannan suggested there should be no increase and this was supported by Ian Davison, who said: ’Social housing should be there for those who are struggling.’

Commissioners acknowledged tenants could not keep up with increasing costs, and they also noted slow wage growth over the last few years.

Chairman of the board, Christine Moughtin, said: ’For once, it would be nice if tenants were the winners not the losers’.

The board agreed by a majority vote that rents should be frozen.

In contrast, Ramsey Town Commissioners agreed to suggest a 2.5% increase in public sector rents for the 2019/20 rent year in line with current inflation rates.

The decision was in part because the authority has a deficit of over £1.12m on the operation of its 553 public sector houses, around £2,038 per house per year, which is met by government grant. As a result, they resolved to request an inflationary increase to keep pace with maintenance and administration costs.

Commissioners thought a zero increase could result in larger percentages being applied in future years, and felt regular small increases were easier for tenants to manage than larger price hikes.

A 2.5% increase equates to an additional average weekly rent of approximately £2.60 for a three bedroom house.

The resolution was passed by eight votes to three, newly elected Commissioner Nigel Howard, together with Bill Hankin and Alby Oldham voting against.

A final decision on the public sector rent increase will be made by the DoI.