Edinburgh flat repairs backlog reaches £1.4bn

Edinburgh tenements are made from sandstone

A backlog of an estimated £1.4bn of repairs to Edinburgh's tenements has prompted a major review of legislation surrounding statutory notices.

David McIndoe, Edinburgh City Council's director of property and development, said last year's "severe winter" had exacerbated the problem.

He is now urging flat owners to attend to their repairs before the council is forced to issue them statutory notices.

This year 3,000 notices have been served, affecting 37,000 people.

Edinburgh City Council is unique in having the powers to impose statutory notices on private properties.

The principle is to make sure its historic housing stock does not crumble and become dangerous.

Repair scam

But if residents cannot agree on a contractor within 28 days the council steps in to assume control.

There are approximately 118,250 tenement flats in the capital.

Earlier in the week Edinburgh City Council said one of its employees was being investigated by police after allegations of a housing repair scam worth more than £4m.

The worker has been suspended during a probe into claims he received money from a firm for awarding them contracts without putting the work out to tender.