Introduction
Responsibility for keeping houses in good condition lies mainly with the owner. Regular maintenance is important to preserve the value of their investment, as well as for the comfort and welfare of the occupiers. However, people do sometimes need assistance to meet this responsibility. The Scottish Government supports a number of schemes to provide such assistance.
Local authorities can provide Housing Improvement and Repair Grants to help with the cost of bringing private houses up to modern standards, dealing with serious disrepair and adapting houses to meet the need of disabled occupants.
Care & Repair services offer independent advice and assistance to help homeowners repair, improve or adapt their homes so that they can live in comfort and safety at home in their own community. The service is available to owner-occupiers, private tenants and crofters who are aged 60 or over or who have a disability.
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 gives local authorities powers to use a wider range of assistance to improve the condition of private housing in their areas. Alongside grants, other options include various forms of loans, advice and information, and practical help with issues such as organising common repairs and finding reputable tradesmen. More details of these schemes will be available on this site as they develop.
Common repairs can be particularly complicated and good advice is contained in a Consumer Guide to managing common repairs, published by Consumer Focus Scotland. A short guide is also available.