Traces the evolution of the legal definition of flat ownership in England, Wales and Scotland. Following the break up of private rented flats in England and Wales and Scotland two distinct property ownership systems emerged, both seeking to provide individual ownership of the flat and collective management of the block in which the flat was contained In England and Wales leasehold ownership retained the previous landlord tenant relationship through allowing positive covenants only to be enforced on the first purchaser of a flat and not subsequent purchasers. In Scotland where outright individual ownership of a flat is legally possible, the management arrangements covering common parts of the building have not proved satisfactory. Argues that neither legal arrangements have put in place an ownership of governance regime that matches popular cultural expectations of what individual home ownership should consist. References.