Council tenants in Douglas would get a better deal if the borough council could set its own rents.
So says Council leader David Christian in response to a government review of public sector housing Island-wide.
The review concludes that for public sector housing to become financially viable, the rent for an average 3-bedroom house should go up from ?74 to ?143 by April 2016.
Councillor Christian says that's because government policy has kept council house rents artificially low in recent years.
He says any rise would be much lower if the authority had the freedom to set its own rents:
The council opposes plans to replace 17 separate housing authorities with just one, but backs plans for more means-testing for those seeking a council house.
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