Report to the People
26th July 2004
We Should all Prepare to Repair
Having
one or two more important things to worry about at the moment, I’ve not been
following the SNP leadership contest in any great detail.
But
it does look a strange affair. Already
there have been more twists than at the Gala Casino’s pontoon table and more
plotting than you’d see at the Royal Society of Chart-makers’ annual dinner.
For
example, undaunted by minor hindrances such as not even being an MSP, the Prince
across the Tweed, Alex Salmond, has decided he wants another shot – proposing
to lead the party from Westminster. This,
no doubt combined with not bothering to turn up at a hustings meeting in
Edinburgh, prompted leadership rival, Mike Russell, to brand Mr Salmond an
“absentee laird.”
Strong
words. Absentee lairds are, of
course, notorious for letting their property fall into disrepair through
neglect.
But
they are not the only offenders.
Across
Scotland, some landlords’ and homeowners’ properties are going to wrack and
ruin because they will not or cannot take action.
The figures I have seen say that around 10% of houses in Scotland
are in urgent need of repair.
Not
only does disrepair make a property, and indeed the surrounding area, unsightly,
it can be dangerous. Sub-standard
wiring poses as much of a threat to occupiers as an unstable chimney stack does
to passers-by, or as antiquated plumbing does to a downstairs neighbour.
Last
week, therefore, the Scottish Executive announced that it is proposing to give
councils more powers to repair private properties and send the owners the bill.
In addition to protecting public safety, this could concentrate a few
minds and encourage property owners examine their priorities.
Another
proposal would allow councils to offer owners subsidised loans if they genuinely
could not afford the necessary repairs. Although
I can see some merit in this, all its implications need to be properly thought
through. Are we running the risk of giving handouts to bad
landlords? And how would we stop
someone buying a ramshackle house, receiving public money to improve it, then
selling it on at a fat profit?
The
answers to these questions and more should become clear as the plans are
scrutinised in the coming months.
Most
people who own property do take their duties seriously.
But the law must make clear to the irresponsible minority that, if
you own a house, it is you – not the council
or your fellow taxpayers – who is responsible for its upkeep.
Back to Current Reports to the People
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Report to the People ] [ Interact ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ Directgov ] [ Scottish Parliament ]