Housing Affordability Ratio Data

Summary

A requester asked for the underlying data used to calculate housing affordability ratios in the Isle of Man Housing Market Review, covering the period from 1988 to 2018. The Cabinet Office responded by sending all the requested information within one day of receipt.

Key Facts

• The request was made to the Cabinet Office regarding the Isle of Man Housing Market Review.
• The requester sought data on average and median house prices and earnings.
• The data requested covered the years 1988 to 2018.
• The authority received the request on 2020-08-31 and responded on 2020-09-01.
• The outcome was that all information was sent to the requester.

Data Disclosed

• 2020-08-31
• 2020-09-01
• 1988
• 2018
• 2019
• page 16
• 1451981
• 3 pages
• 1 document

Original Request

Dear Cabinet Office, I am writing to make a freedom of information request for all the information to which I am entitled under the relevant Freedom of Information provisions. I am an Isle of Man resident. Please send me: 1) A copy of the underlying data used to create the affordability ratios for the Isle of Man Housing Market Review. a) By "Isle of Man Housing Market Review" I mean the latest version of the report available online here: https://www.gov.im/media/1366426/housing-market-report.pdf Under ordinary circumstances, the 2019 report would normally have been releated by August, but in this case, the 2018 version *appears* to be the most recent version of the report. b) By "affordability ratios" I mean the ratio published on page 16 of this report, or equivalent: https://www.gov.im/media/1366426/housing-market-report.pdf c) By "a copy of the underlying data" I mean the numbers used to create the ratios described on (b) above. I expect that this will be: i) the "average house prices" and the "average" salary; ii) the "median house prices" and the "median earnings"; and iii) the "Lowest Quartile House Price" and the "25 and under median earnings" d) I would like the data for the extent that you have it, which should be at least 1988 to 2018. If you have earlier or later data, then please include that. e) If the Cabinet Office expects to publish the 2019 version of the report by the end of September 2020, then I am happy for this request to be put on hold until the 2019 version of the report and associated data becomes available. I believe that this is likely to be included with the Freedom of Information definition of 'all information held by authorities listed in Schedule 1 of the Act and which was created on or after 11 October 2011.' I would like the above information to be provided to me as Microsoft Excel or Comma Separated Value electronic copies by email to me. If the files are too large to transfer by email, I am happy to attend your offices with a USB stick. If you prefer alternative arrangements, please contact me to discuss. If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that Manx law requires you to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already is already publicly available, please advise and assist me to locate the information I am seeking, with page references and URLs if necessary. If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should generally not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed. I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, [redacted]

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 1451981 1 September 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 31 August 2020 which states:

"Dear Cabinet Office, I am writing to make a freedom of information request for all the information to which I am entitled under the relevant Freedom of Information provisions. I am an Isle of Man resident. Please send me: 1) A copy of the underlying data used to create the affordability ratios for the Isle of Man Housing Market Review. a) By "Isle of Man Housing Market Review" I mean the latest version of the report available online here: https://www.gov.im/media/1366426/housing-market-report.pdf Under ordinary circumstances, the 2019 report would normally have been releated [sic] by August, but in this case, the 2018 version appears to be the most recent version of the report. b) By "affordability ratios" I mean the ratio published on page 16 of this report, or equivalent: https://www.gov.im/media/1366426/housing-market-report.pdf c) By "a copy of the underlying data" I mean the numbers used to create the ratios described on (b) above. I expect that this will be: i) the "average house prices" and the "average" salary; ii) the "median house prices" and the "median earnings"; and iii) the "Lowest Quartile House Price" and the "25 and under median earnings" d) I would like the data for the extent that you have it, which should be at least 1988 to 2018. If you have earlier or later data, then please include that. e) If the Cabinet Office expects to publish the 2019 version of the report by the end of September 2020, then I am happy for this request to be put on hold until the 2019 version of the report and associated data becomes available. I believe that this is likely to be included with the Freedom of Information definition of 'all information held by authorities listed in Schedule 1 of the Act and which was created on or after 11 October 2011.'

I would like the above information to be provided to me as Microsoft Excel or Comma Separated Value electronic copies by email to me. If the files are too large to transfer by email, I am happy to attend your offices with a USB stick. If you prefer alternative arrangements, please contact me to discuss. If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that Manx law requires you to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already is already publicly available, please advise and assist me to locate the information I am seeking, with page references and URLs if necessary. If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should generally not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed. I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully"

Please find attached the information requested.

Please quote the reference number 1451981 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely