Thousands of public sector housing tenants in the Isle of Man face the possibility of paying significantly increased rents.

The Department of Social Care has asked local authorities for their views on public sector housing, and Douglas Borough Council's Works Committee has considered a range of ideas designed to reduce the large differential between rents paid in the public and private sectors.  

One of the recommendations from the housing manager at the town hall is that families living in local authority houses should be means tested, so their rent was based in some way on their ability to pay.

Alternatively, public sector rents could be set in accordance with market levels, with assistance through social security or tax credits, where it was needed.

The recommendations will go before Wednesday's monthly meeting of the full council, for approval. 

Works Committee chairman Colin Cain outlines another of the suggestions: