A Ramsey MHK has put forward a Private Members Bill to change laws regarding leaseholders.

Lawrie Hooper has opened a consultation seeking the public’s opinion on the Bill, which aims to reform the law around how long leaseholders of flats are able to acquire a ’management order’, that would allow them to collectively take over management of their block of flats.

It also seeks to reform the law around how long leaseholders of flats are able to cooperatively acquire freehold ownership of a block of flats.

Mr Hooper’s Bill seeks to bring the Isle of Man into line with the UK in providing that long leaseholders of flats have the right to collectively obtain management rights of their block of flats, if they meet certain criteria.

Mr Hooper, the leader of Liberal Vannin, said: ’This Bill has taken quite some time to come to fruition and unfortunately has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic

’As such the Bill as drafted deals with the first of these two issues only, that of enabling the right to acquire management over a block of flats.

’The consultation however does include a section relating to collective enfranchisement for leaseholders of flats as the changes that would be required to Isle of Man law could be included in final drafting before the Bill is introduced, should there be time and depending on the likely complexity.’

Mr Hooper said that most modern developments consisting of flats are set up in such a way that the leaseholders of those flats already each have a share in the management company, and are able to have a role in managing their block of flats.

’Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and there are a number of places in the island where leaseholders don’t have any formal say in how their block of flats is managed.

’Often, this doesn’t cause problems: people can be generally content with arrangements, but sometimes issues may arise.’

The consultation is available via the government website and closes April 9, 2021.