Help At Hand for Homeowners
Scores of homeowners, landlords and agents in Aberdeen took part in a unique seminar to help them brush up on vital property maintenance – before tough new powers force them to.
Aberdeen City Council worked in partnership with Aberdeen Property Repair Initiative, Aberdeen College and Aberdeen City Heritage Trust to host a free training seminar for owners – including practical maintenance workshops to help them safeguard their home.
Organisers say the event was a major success - with landlords and letting agents, in particular, well represented. They now hope to work with these and other homeowners to provide more workshops in the future.
Community Services conveyer Irene Cormack, who attended the event, said: "This has been a great opportunity for the city's landlords and agents to find out more about avoiding common problems.
"Powers will soon be available for councils to order work on unfit homes that threaten other people's property and even public safety - but we would far rather work with homeowners and help them to be proactive and protect their homes as best they can."
The seminar marked National Maintenance Week and formed part of a drive to encourage the city's tens of thousands of private homeowners to take repair and maintenance issues more seriously.
Those taking part in the event were warned far-reaching new legislation would soon give them no choice.
Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, all local authorities will soon be able to issue Work Notices – orders to carry out repairs or other improvements within a specified time. The notices are likely to be used where a home is below standard or seriously in need of repair, or in danger of damaging other properties.
Maintenance Orders will also be available to councils to ensure that privately owned properties don't fall into disrepair. A property owner may be sent a maintenance order if the council is concerned that their home is not being kept in good condition, or that work done under a work notice is likely to deteriorate.
Such an order would require the owner to draw up a maintenance plan, outlining what they intend to do over the following five years to keep their property in good condition – even including the garden. The plan will need to be approved by the local authority, which can reject it if they feel it is not robust.
On a larger scale, Councils will have powers to specify Housing Renewal Areas and, in consultation with residents, draw up an action plan to improve the quality of properties within them. If any houses are in a very serious state of disrepair, a demolition notice may be issued.
All of the above powers were agreed within the 2006 legislation, which is now law. However, they are not yet in force and individual elements are likely to commence during the course of this year and next.
Private Sector Housing Strategy Officer, Andy Pitblado, said: "The truth is that some private homes in the city are not terribly well maintained – which can pose a real risk to other properties around them or, through the threat of falling masonry, to anyone who happens to pass by in the street."It is surprising that people are prepared to spend ever-increasing amounts to own their home, but are then unwilling to pay relatively modest sums to protect their investment; replacing lost slates, keeping gutters clear and other common sense repairs.
"I think the seminar let us get a lot of valuable information out there for homeowners who want to make sure their property stays in good condition. We looked at everything from how to apply for grants to assist you with major work to advice on how to plan maintenance – and there were also practical workshops looking at roofing, window and masonry repairs, which were particularly well received."
Feedback from the event was positive and the council and its partners are now keen to keep up the momentum and offer further seminars, workshops and information on the issues homeowners and landlords identified as most important to them.
In doing so, they hope to work positively with owners to prevent problems - rather than be left to enforce repairs when something goes wrong.
You can view the presentations given on the day below:
Download Roger Curtis’ presentation - Historic Scotland Presentation
Download Craig Frew’s presentation - Scottish Lime Centre Trust
To view copies of Historic Scotland’s guides given out on the day please visit:
Contact
For any enquires relating to private housing please contact: privatehousing@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Other Related Links:
Common Repair Common Sense ( Communities Scotland Guide to Communal Repairs)
APRI (Aberdeen Property Repair Initiative)
Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
The Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997
Scottish Building Standards Agency
Aberdeen City Heritage Trust
Private Landlord Newsletter No 1
