Current laws governing dilapidated properties are perfectly adequate, the island’s acting Attorney General John Quinn has said.
Mr Quinn was responding to a question from Tynwald speaker and member for Garff Steve Rodan, who wanted to know what recourse the government has against owners who live abroad or in the UK.
He said responsibility lay principally with local authorities whose powers were governed by the Building Control Act, 1991. This allows the authority to serve a written notice on the owner to carry out repairs on a property which is detrimental to the neighbourhood.
Failure to comply with the notice is an offence and there is a right of appeal to the High Bailiff, he said.
If an owner fails to undertake work it can be carried out by the local authority and measures taken to recover the cost from the owner.
‘This is not dependent on the owner and notice can be served even if the owner’s whereabouts are not known. I have known this to be done by fixing it to the door, for example.
‘I believe the current legislation is fit for purpose even when owners are overseas. The court has wide powers in relation to serving notice.’
He said he did not believe a power of compulsory purchase was needed.