An improvement notice has been served on the leaseholders of Ramsey’s infamous ’Bleak House’.

It’s a move by the board of Ramsey District Commissioners that’s aimed at breaking the deadlock which has left the building to deteriorate.

The section 24 notice under the Building Control Act requires the leaseholders to improve the appearance of the former guesthouse on Mooragh Promenade, including tidying up the render, painting the walls and replacing windows.

Signed by the Commissioners’ clerk, it was sent out by recorded delivery on Friday and will also be served in person by the coroner.

Clerk Peter Whiteway said: ’We hope this step will galvanise the parties to get something sorted out.’

One of the leaseholders is Jane Morris, who has been living alone in Bleak House without mains power or heating since her husband died in April last year.

Previous action to issue a section 24 notice was served on the owner of the building, a company of which Mrs Morris is a shareholder.

But following a court judgment on an unrelated legal case, the Commissioners have been advised they can take action against the leaseholders.

Last year, it looked like an end to the decades-long dispute could be in sight after agreement in principle was reached between Mrs Morris and the other leaseholder to sell the building, free of the legal encumbrances.

But that move came to nothing when the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

If the leaseholders fail to carry out works to improve the appearance of Bleak House, the Commissioners would then take them to court for breaching the order.

This would give the board the option of getting the works done in default - and that could mean the building being sold to settle against the debt.

Mr Whiteway said there was interest in buying the property but it was down to the leaseholders to take the decision to sell. He said he hoped the deadlock could be broken.