Condition review of island homes

A survey of the condition of privately owned houses and flats on the Isle of Man is to be launched next month.

The Department of Local Government and the Environment said the information will be used to review the various home improvement schemes available.

The Department generally carries out the surveys every five years.

Previous reviews have enabled the department to allocate funding to improve thermal insulation and central heating systems.

Any information will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used for statistical purposes only, a department spokesman said.

The property survey will normally take no more than 20 minutes and will be carried out between October and December 2007.

John Shimmin, minister for the department, said: "I will be writing to those randomly selected to help us with more details on when the visit will take place and the security measures in place to safeguard householders from bogus surveyors.

"This will include the notification of a free phone number to use for any queries or to confirm the identity of the surveyor."