Property repairs, maintenance and water supplies
What support is available for landlords who are negotiating with uncooperative owners around tenement repairs and maintenance?
The Council website provides useful information about tenement maintenance, including how to deal with uncooperative owners. Under One Roof also provide comprehensive information about tenement repairs and maintenance.
For further advice, you can contact the Council’s Housing Improvement Officers for your local area using the details below:
- Housing Improvement Officer – Bute and Cowal, Union Street, Rothesay PA20 0HD Phone: 01700 501375
- Housing Improvement Officer - Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay, Burnet Building, Campbeltown PA28 6ED Phone: 01586 559090
- Housing Improvement Officer – Helensburgh and Lomond, The Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, G84 7PG Phone: 01436 658738
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Housing Improvement Officer – Oban, Lorn and the Isles, Municipal Buildings, Albany Street, Oban PA34 4AW Phone: 01631 567935
I am struggling to repair and maintain my rental property due to the lack of availability of tradespeople. What can I do?
Unfortunately, this was highlighted as a significant issue for landlords in the recent research around the Challenges Faced by Rural Landlords. Within the research, it was noted that this appeared to particularly affect landlord with smaller portfolios.
There are some actions in the Council’s Housing Emergency Action Plan which aim to address this in the long-term, such as dramatically increasing the number of construction courses delivered locally.
However, in the short-term, if you are struggling to repair and maintain your property, it may be helpful to discuss this with other local landlords in your area, to confirm whether it may be possible to set up an arrangement and find a contractor who would be available to attend the area when required to carry out necessary works on a larger portfolio of properties.
If you are concerned that the lack of maintenance causing your property to fall into a dangerous state of repair, you may wish to contact the Building Standards Team. While it is the owners’ responsibility to ensure that their building is kept in a good state of repair, Building Standards staff are always willing to advise owners who are concerned about their building falling into a dangerous condition.
For further advice around property improvement and repairs, you may wish to contact the Council’s Housing Improvement Officers for your local area using the details below:
- Housing Improvement Officer – Bute and Cowal, Union Street, Rothesay PA20 0HD Phone: 01700 501375
- Housing Improvement Officer - Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay, Burnet Building, Campbeltown PA28 6ED Phone: 01586 559090
- Housing Improvement Officer – Helensburgh and Lomond, The Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, G84 7PG Phone: 01436 658738
- Housing Improvement Officer – Oban, Lorn and the Isles, Municipal Buildings, Albany Street, Oban PA34 4AW Phone: 01631 567935
With the changes to the repairing standard and drinking water supplies/lead pipework in property, how do I get my water tested?
If the water to your property comes from Scottish Water (Mains Supply) then contact Scottish Water to arrange for a water test, this is likely to form part of your water rates payment to Scottish Water that is collected as part of your Council Tax bill.
Landlord Guidance on Lead - Scottish Water
If the water is provided by a private water supply (i.e. NOT Scottish Water) such as a burn or borehole then it must be registered with the Local Authority, and you should contact them regarding sampling.
All water supplies irrespective of type must comply with the same repair standards requirement.
