Improving private housing – implementing the new agenda
Martin Macaulay, Project Manager, Edinburgh City Council
David Webster, Housing Strategy Manager, Glasgow City Council
Iain Muirhead, Policy Delivery Manager, Communities Scotland
The session focused on the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, a new piece of legislation with far reaching implications. The Act places obligations on local authorities to take a strategic approach to repairs and maintenance in the private sector. The Act will allow local authorities to force owner occupiers and private landlords to repair, maintain and improve the standard of their homes.
Iain Muirhead outlined the measures in the Act, and explained that one of the key principles underlining the Act is that owners are primarily responsible for the maintenance of their homes.
This was then followed by two contrasting approaches to implementing this section of the Act.
David Webster argued that there will be a clear need to finance loans and grants to help owners maintain their homes. He outlined the complexity of using maintenance order and emphasised the need to integrate anti-social behaviour powers and HMO powers with the new measures within the 2006 Act.
Martin Macaulay then described how Edinburgh intends to implement the act by providing advice and assistance to help owners maintain their own properties.
Nearly three quarters of the housing stock in Edinburgh fail the SHQS and this means that funding improvements to private housing in not financially possible. Research carried out by the council suggests that it would cost over £500million to bring the common property in tenements in the city up to standard.
Edinburgh have trialled a self assessment building condition audit. Surveying 'typical' streets in Edinburgh, the team found that while owners would like to improve their homes they are not able to arrange or operate maintenance and repair plans. A follow up pilot scheme provided further details of the condition of properties and will assist the Council to develop maintenance plans. The scheme will encourage owners to appoint property managers and establish owners associations.
With implementation of the Act due in 2008/09, there will be a transition period to allow authorities to prepare for their new role.