Emerging Crisis In Glasgow Housing

Glasgow City Council's Executive Committee has passed an action plan to tackle the "emerging crisis" in property factoring in the city.

The move from the local authority comes after a final report from the Glasgow Factoring Commission which outlined "significant consequences" for the city if current problems continue to exist.

Factors are the agents appointed by owners to look after common repairs in blocks of flats, but in the last nine months, six tenements without factors have had to be evacuated because they were in a serious state of disrepair.

The new report now says that professional factors are needed to help modernise the way it does business and to improve the way in which they respond to customers.

One of the most important changes it said would be to improve the quality of information made available to property owners.


Elsewhere, the report highlighted concerns that a lack of maintenance is contributing to falling property prices and is threatening the longevity of certain buildings. It added that owners failing to invest in their property is "likely to lead to significant damage to the economic and social fabric of hitherto stable parts of Glasgow."

Bailie Liz Cameron, Glasgow Council's Executive Member for Development and Regeneration, said: "In the past nine months six tenements in Glasgow have had to be evacuated because they have fallen into a dangerous state of disrepair.

"That has enormous cost implications for the owners and the council and in every case the tenements were unfactored.

"I know factors have received a bad press and in some cases that is fully deserved. But a good and effective factor can play a fundamentally important role in ensuring the upkeep of shared property."

Jean Charsley, Chairwoman of the Commission, added: "Almost three-quarters of the homes in Glasgow are within shared property and it is the responsibility of owners and property managers to ensure that property is kept in good order.

"Neglected buildings also affect their neighbours and the whole area.

"The report highlights what needs to be done and I'm delighted the council is taking on board the recommendations made by the commission."

However, she added that Glasgow alone could not solve all the problems, explaining: "Some recommendations will require the assistance of the Scottish government if they are to be implemented properly".

(JP/MH)