Campaign to help tenants saw rent arrears fall 47%

A local authority in the south of the Isle of Man said its campaign urging tenants "not to suffer in silence" due to financial pressures over the festive season saw its usual rise in rent arrears cut by almost half.

Port St Mary Commissioners launched a social media campaign in December calling for those who felt at risk of falling behind to contact the housing officer.

The local authority said, as a result of the support offered, in January the rise in its rent arrears had fallen from up to £5,156 the previous year to ££2,725 in 2026 - a reduction of 47%.

The local authority said that change showed that the social media campaign had had a "positive impact."

Chairman of Port St Mary Commissioners, Jean Teare, said during Christmas "sometimes the overheads can get forgotten".

The campaign was designed to signpost people to different support agencies and charities if they felt they had been "overstretched" during winter, she continued.

"Local authorities should always have a conscience," she said, "and part of our board strategy is to help those who do have difficulties."

The campaign had also helped reduce rate arrears by 11%, she added.

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