The government will consider extending compulsory purchase powers as a way to address the island’s worst run-down properties.

Department of Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said the matter would be looked at, following a question from Douglas North MHK David Ashford.

Mr Harmer told Keys: ’The run-down appearance of certain properties is a real blight on our communities and undermines efforts to regenerate towns and villages and to boost local economies.

’The department has been working in partnership with local authorities to reflect a common desire to tackle this issue.’

But he said powers already exist for local authorities to take action to tackle the issue, thanks to section 24 of the Building Control Act, which permits them to serve a notice to repair on the owner of a run-down property. In extreme cases, he said, the local authority can step in and complete any urgent work then reclaim their expenditure once the property is sold.

Further powers were granted last year providing fixed penalty charges which can be imposed on owners who are required to complete work on properties and fail to do so.

He said local authorities currently have some limited compulsory powers but these are rarely used.

’The aim remains to give them the tools they need to make owners attend to the issues. But we are still looking at positive ways forward,’ he said.

Mr Ashford said the root of the problem really was a ’hard core’ of about a dozen properties.

’These have been in and out of court and have got nowhere,’ he said.

’This is why I am pushing for this. The power of compulsory purchase has been available to local authorities in the UK for 32 years and the world has not caved in.’

Mr Ashford said he was aware of one home owner who had ’forked out ’ £3,000 to repair a property next door because it was affecting his own so badly.

’Some people are having their lives turned to misery by this,’ he said, adding that even the mere threat of compulsory purchase could have a major effect in encouraging someone to take action. He gave the example of Birmingham council which had restored 1,000 properties to habitable condition thanks to the threat of compulsory purchase.

Some laws dated to 1955 and were not fit for purpose, he said.

Mr Harmer said: ’The department will also consider whether it is appropriate to extend compulsory purchase orders to local authorities in respect of dilapidated and ruinous properties.

’Local authorities do have some compulsory purchase powers but would obviously need to consider the legal aspects of each case.’