Almost one in 25 of the Island’s private homes are unfit to live in, according to a new report.

The Department of Local Government and the Environment carried out a private sector house condition survey last year, and has published its findings on the government website.

In a report, the department says putting the problems right would cost homeowners and landlords more than ?25 million.

There is some good news, however, as the problem of unfit housing has declined since 2002.

Jason Roberts reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

The document, which runs to 89 pages, says unfit dwellings are most likely to be found in Port St Mary, Douglas, Castletown and Laxey.

Properties identified as being particularly at risk of becoming unfit to live in include converted and mixed-use flats, as well as buildings put up before 1945.

An even bigger problem is the one in ten homes which the report says require major repairs, at an estimated total cost of more than ?34 million.

And the Island comes out second-best to the UK, with higher rates of homes in disrepair or which would fail the English 'Decent Homes' standard.