Aberdeen City Council has announced an initiative to improve the city's private housing block by helping property owners make repairs to flatted buildings.

The enforcement funding initiative will help owners complete common repairs and maintenance work to their properties.

The council added it can assist in situations where the majority of owners in a block are trying to complete works.

However, there are a minority of owners who either cannot or will not contribute their share of costs.

The local authority can help to convene 'stair meetings' with individual owners and also meet the costs of the reluctant owners if necessary to facilitate repairs in common areas such as roofs, gutters and stairwells.

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So far, the council has committed over £500,000 which has allowed works with a value of over £2.9m to be carried out.

Further funding of over £778,000 had been set aside to assist the owners of 49 flats and shop units to participate in common repairs, with a total value of £2.9m.

In total, the council has earmarked approximately £1.3m. The upfront funding from the council is repaid by any private owner who has not paid their share.

Councillor Neil Cooney said: "It is great to see the success of this initiative in helping to improve poor quality housing in the private sector.

"Property owners, particularly in shared tenement blocks, can often have difficulties in contacting other owners and reaching agreements, so our officers are providing an important service in bringing people together and assisting with repair work."

"It is essential that all owners in a tenement communicate with each other to ensure they maintain the property.

"They have made a significant investment when buying the property, carrying out ongoing maintenance helps protect this investment and the housing stock for the future."

(LM)