A SELECT Committee of Tynwald has been set up to look into a dispute in Kirk Michael involving service charges paid by property owners which led to a petition for redress of grievance being presented at the Tynwald ceremony this year.
The petitioners are all owners of freehold bungalows at Cannan Court, Kirk Michael. Kirk Michael Community Housing Association provides various services including keeping gardens tidy and properly mowed and painting the exterior of the bungalows once every three years.
However, a dispute has arisen over the service charge payable by the freeholders for these services as it appears that there is no remedy in law as existing legislation (namely the Property Service Charges Act 1989) only covers leasehold property.
The Tynwald Day petition calls on a Select Committee to examine reform of the law relating to service charges with specific reference to freehold property.
A statement issued today by government said, “The Select Committee would now like to offer an opportunity to anyone affected by similar issues to submit written statements of their experiences and any recommendations.”
The Committee has asked for written evidence from owners of freehold properties who have been obliged to, or voluntarily offered to pay a service charge and also from those who provide such services. The Committee has also asked for the views of lawyers, property developers and others with experience of setting up shared services for groups of freehold properties.
The three members of the Select Committee are Juan Watterson MHK, (chairman), Eddie Teare MHK and Chris Robertshaw MHK.
Comments should be submitted by 13th December to Jonathan King, clerk to the Select Committee, at Legislative Buildings, Douglas IM1 3PW. 686303. (j.king@tynwald.org.im).
