Housing Agency Terms of Reference

Summary

The request sought details on the legal formation, membership, and terms of reference of the Isle of Man Housing Agency. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the Agency is an internal structure rather than a separate legal entity, operates under delegated powers from the Minister, and has a board of 12 positions.

Key Facts

• The Housing Agency is not a statutory board or separate legal entity but an internal structure within the Department of Infrastructure.
• The Agency operates under the Government Departments Act 1987 using powers delegated by the Minister for Infrastructure.
• The board consists of 12 total positions when fully attended, including political members, independent non-IOMG members, and advisors.
• The Terms of Reference were approved by the Minister for Infrastructure following discussions at Project Board meetings.
• Public availability of the Terms of Reference is pending the completion of the Agency's branding and website updates.

Data Disclosed

• 12
• Government Departments Act 1987
• AT 13 of 1987
• 2025-12-09
• 2026-01-08
• 5151401
• 2025-08-22
• 2025-12-01

Original Request

Further to the Manx Radio news release of Monday, 1 December 2025 17:27. which states "will apply to both DoI Housing Agency tenants and Local Authority housing tenants" 1. Under what provisions has the Housing Agency been formed? 2. What is its membership in total? 3. Does it have board representation, and if so, who sits on the board, under what terms? 4. Who decided the membership of the board (ref Manx Radio Friday, 22 August 2025 10:05)? 5. what are its terms of reference and powers to act in law? 6. when will this information be made publicly available? https://iom-search.funnelback.squiz.cloud/s/search.html?f.Tabs%7CAllDocumentsFill = All+Results&query = Housing+Agency&collection = iom%7Esp-local-government-meta&start_rank = 11 reveals no factual information

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 5151401 7 January 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 9 December 2025, which states:

"Further to the Manx Radio news release of Monday, 1 December 2025 17:27. which states "will apply to both DoI Housing Agency tenants and Local Authority housing tenants"

1. Under what provisions has the Housing Agency been formed?

2. What is its membership in total?

3. Does it have board representation, and if so, who sits on the board, under what terms?

4. Who decided the membership of the board (ref Manx Radio Friday, 22 August 2025 10:05)?

5. what are its terms of reference and powers to act in law?

6. when will this information be made publicly available?

https://iom-search.funnelback.squiz.cloud/s/search.html?f.Tabs%7CAllDocumentsFill = All+Results&query = Housing+Agency&collection = iom%7Esp-local-government- meta&start_rank = 11

reveals no factual information"

Our response to your request is as follows: Please see below comments. Please also be aware that the terms of reference are not static and may be subject to ongoing revision.

1. Under what provisions has the Housing Agency been formed? Isle of Man Government departments are constituted and empowered under the Government Departments Act 1987 (AT 13 of 1987). This Act provides the legal framework for the establishment of departments as separate legal entities, and it is under this provision that they can function as agencies delivering public services

The housing agency is not a legal body i.e. it is not a statutory board or an arm’s length management organisation. The agency is an internal structure to support management functions and decision making.

1. What is its membership in total? There is a total of 12 positions represented on the board when fully attended.

2. Does it have board representation, and if so, who sits on the board, under what terms? The core members of the board are:

• Political Chair – Minister, DOI
• Political Member – Appointed by the Minister, DOI
• Chief Officer, DOI
• Member – Independent, non-IOMG
• Member – Independent, non-IOMG
• Member – Independent, non-IOMG

Advisors to the Board:

• Senior Financial Business Partner, DOI Financial Advisory Services (FAS)
• Head of Housing, DOI
• Lead Development Officer, DOI
• Head of Corporate Services, DOI
• Secretariat and Performance Manager, DOI
• DOI Strategic OHR Business Partner, OHR

Additional attendees may be invited by the Chair where relevant to the agenda.

1. Who decided the membership of the board (ref Manx Radio Friday, 22 August 2025 10:05)? The membership was discussed at the Housing Agency Project Board meetings which informed the Terms of Reference for the Housing Agency Board. The TOR was reviewed and approved by the Minister for Infrastructure.

2. what are its terms of reference and powers to act in law?
   As per the ToR the agency is charged to “Be accountable to the Department of Infrastructure (the Department, DOI). The overall responsibility sits with the Department and the DOI Minister”

The Agency is not a separate legal entity but instead operates using delegated powers from the Minister for Infrastructure and, as such, ultimate authority for the agreement of government policy remains the responsibility of the Department, guided by the Agency.

The Minister has powers as described in the Government Departments Act 1987 – Exercise of Functions of Department.

Each individual officer member has delegated powers empowered by the Government Departments Act 1987.

1. when will this information be made publicly available?
   The Terms of Reference have been approved. The “branding” is still under development. Once branding has been completed, the current housing division website will be updated and populated with documentation including the Housing Agency ToR.

Please quote the reference number 5151401 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.