The local authorities of Ramsey, Ballaugh, Jurby, Bride, Andreas, Lezayre, and Garff authority’s’ ward of Maughold, together with the Department of Infrastructure, are jointly exploring opportunities for increased partnership working and modernisation of service delivery of the region’s housing stock.

The initiative will see the Northern Area Housing Working Group introduce a shared housing waiting list and joint allocation process. Applicants for general needs public sector housing will then be able to choose whether they wish to access the wider geographic area managed by the housing providers, or narrow their choice to more specific locations.

Ramsey Town Commissioners’ lead member for housing and property Michelle Quayle said: 'Ramsey Town Commissioners are pleased to be working in partnership with the northern local authorities and joining forces with the Department of Infrastructure in a measure that will help to transform the housing allocation process. This initiative is about delivering a social housing service that better responds to supply and demand, more closely reflects the needs of applicants and ultimately provides tenants with homes in their preferred communities.’

The two social housing administrators in the north, Ramsey Town Commissioners and the Department of Infrastructure, will be writing to existing applicants to explain in more detail the changes and benefits of the new system.