13 February 2013 Last updated at 07:56 ET

Isle of Man clamp down on multiple occupancy homes

Plans to implement a registration scheme for multiple occupancy homes on the Isle of Man will go to public consultation, the government has said.

It is thought the proposals, designed to raise rental standards, could affect about 200 island properties.

Landlords would be given three years to comply with new guidelines.

An environment department spokesman said multiple occupancy homes were illegal but the changes would give an alternative to prosecution.

Multiple occupancy homes are defined as buildings with shared areas occupied by more than five people from more than one household.

John Howie from the environment department said: "We do get complaints about some accommodation, they tend to come from people renting rooms in some of the big houses in Douglas which have more than five people living in them.

"This is not about genuine house shares with five people or less, this is about the large [former] guest houses."

The new government guidelines would require rented properties to be "structurally sound with sufficient bathrooms, toilets washing and cooking facilities and other essential amenities, including sound and thermal insulation".

More information about the public consultation can be found online.