Homeowners in Inverclyde are being urged to take advantage of a free council service that can help them maintain their homes.

Inverclyde Council re-launched the free Property Inspection Service in January this year to provide homeowners with information and advice on common problems such as poorly maintained roof coverings, rising dampness or timber defects.

In just seven months, over 180 householders have used the service, and saved thousands of pounds as a direct result of minor repairs being identified early and addressed before they became more serious.

Convener of Inverclyde Council’s Safe Sustainable Communities Committee, Councillor Robert Moran, said: "The Property Inspection Service has been a fantastic success so far. Householders who have used the service were asked to fill in a questionnaire about how they rated it, and the average satisfaction rating has been over 9 out of 10.

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"I am hoping that even more people take advantage of the service – it has already saved local people a great deal of money by spotting problems before they become very expensive to fix.

"On top of that, anyone wishing to sell their home on the open market now needs to pay for a Seller’s Survey. The Council's free service can identify potential building defects before a costly Seller’s Survey is commissioned."

Inspections are undertaken by a suitably qualified person with knowledge of residential buildings and the local area.

The Inspection Officer can answer any general maintenance questions, undertake an onsite inspection and advise the public on what other services Inverclyde Council or its partners currently offer that homeowners may find beneficial, such as the Local Energy Savings Scheme (LESS Inverclyde).

For further information or to arrange an inspection, contact the Property Inspection Officer on 01475 712061.

(GK/KMcA)