EXPRESSIONS of interest are being sought from private organisations with expertise in housing policy to assist the Department of Social Care with a fundamental review of the Island’s housing policy.
The review will cover all aspects of housing policy and is intended to anticipate the major changes and challenges the Island will face over the next 20 years that affect housing.
Social Care Minister Martyn Quayle MHK said: "Good housing is fundamental to the quality of life of each individual and family and for our community as a whole.
"At the July sitting of Tynwald I announced that I was initiating a major policy review of the Island’s housing needs.
"Since then my department has drawn up plans for this comprehensive review that will involve analysis of future economic and demographic trends plus policy developments in some other countries.
"This will enable us to consider implications and options for government policy to ensure we continue to enjoy a good range of housing that meets the needs of our community and is affordable.
"We are seeking organisations with housing policy expertise who can help us with this complex undertaking. Such a review happens rarely – the last one reported to Tynwald in 1991 – hence we want experienced external assistance to make sure the review is suitably comprehensive and that, after input from all relevant stakeholders, we can ensure the resulting policies truly meet the Island’s needs."
Bill Henderson MHK, political member for housing, said: "We need both input from experienced experts as well as public consultation with many stakeholders including Tynwald members, the public, the construction sector, charitable groups, local housing authorities, tenants, among others.
"Publishing this document seeking expressions of interest is the important next step to achieving the best outcome for the review.
"This review will help the department to plan strategically for the community’s future housing needs."
There has been a lot of change since the last housing policy review 20 years ago.
*The population has grown by 17 per cent from 70,000 to 82,000
*The average number of people per household has continued to shrink, resulting in the number of homes required rising faster than population growth
*The economy has grown by more than six per cent a year in real terms, three times the average in the European Union
*Typical earnings for workers have doubled, while the gap between top and bottom quartile earnings has widened
*The typical house price has risen from £70,000 to £250,000.
Further significant change is expected over the next 20 years: This include continued population growth of less than one per cent a year, continued economic growth resulting in further growth in earnings, further demographic shift - including a rise in the number of over-65s by around half and continued rise in the number of one-person households, resulting in growing needs for different sorts of housing including smaller homes.
The department said these economic and demographic changes will drive the need for more housing and are likely to result in further rises in house prices.
