West Dunbartonshire Council is to consider providing grants to some home owners affected by flat-roofed problems in the Silverton area.

It added that it could, in certain cases, alternatively offer to buy back homes.

Work is due to begin soon on four Council properties in Dumbuie Avenue and Smollett Road, which have been identified as homes in urgent need of attention due to roofing issues. However, the local authority has now found a possible funding solution for those affected in a mixed-tenure block or those properties which are factored by the Council.

At a meeting of the Council's Housing, Environmental and Economic Development Committee last week, Councillors agreed to look at two potential options. The first involved extending the current Scheme of Assistance and provides grant aid to qualifying owners for up to 50% of the total cost of the work required, up to a maximum of £20,000. However, owners need to demonstrate that they have approached two financial institutions for a loan and have been refused.

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The second option is that the local authority will consider repurchasing properties (where it is in the Council's interest to do so), at the original 'Right to Buy' (RTB) price and for the owner to remain in situ as tenant. This option provides for the owner to revert to becoming a secure tenant with no financial outlay.

Councillor David McBride, Housing Convener, said: "While it is the responsibility of owners to undertake the work necessary to their property, it is recognised that the circumstances which have arisen are unique in West Dunbartonshire and one where owners could never have been expected to plan for such an event. Therefore we asked officers to explore all legitimate options for the Council to provide support or assistance.

"Due to the owner occupier responsibility for their property, the assistance available is obviously limited but at least offers some options to owner occupier that otherwise were not available before. This is a desperate situation for affected owner occupiers and we have tried to assist where we possibly can. It is disappointing to note despite requests for assistance to the Scottish Government they have so far failed to provide any practical assistance."

The Council has said there are currently 20 owned properties potentially affected where owners may benefit from the proposed funding solutions.

(JP/CD)