Eight out of ten homes in need of repairs

Almost two million Scottish homes are in a sub-standard condition and need repairs, as hard-up homeowners struggle to pay the cost of improvements.

Most of the damage is affecting “critical” features like the roofs, walls and foundations, a report has found.

The figures have been branded “deeply shocking” with calls for the Scottish Government to introduce new minimum standards.

Most homes, whether owned or rented, are failing national quality standards because they do not have things like central heating, or insulation for walls and hot water tanks, according to the latest Scottish House Condition Survey. Experts fear that the economic downturn could be preventing hard up Scots from seeing to critical restoration work.

David Bookbinder, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland, said that there has always been a “certain amount of ignorance” among homeowners reluctant to face up to the costly bills that repairs might carry.

He said: “The greatest issue, even before the recession, was people not having the cash for a big lump sum – or preferring to spend what money they did have on kitchens or bathrooms. There is an issue there. People do spend billions on their own homes, but it’s not always on the structural stuff.”

The figures show that about 1.9 million properties, 80 per cent of all homes in Scotland, need repairs carried out.

This includes about 1.3 million either at structural risk or no longer being wind and weather proof, because of the damage to key areas like the roofs, walls or foundations. More than 100,000 homes – about one in 20 – are afflicted by dampness, while about a quarter of a million homes are affected by condensation.

Labour housing spokesman Lewis Macdonald branded the figures “chilling”.

“As the effects of the recession still bite, people are struggling with even the basics,” he said.

One-fifth of the stock in Scotland is now more than 90 years old, while a third of the housing stock is more than 60 years old.

About 1.4 million homes are failing the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS).

Failures are down to things like the absence of central heating and insulation for walls and hot water tanks, although the figure for 2010 is slightly down on 2009.

More than a third of all Scottish homes are also estimated to be in fuel poverty according to the survey, as a result of electricity price rises.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, voiced concern over the 552,000 council and housing association homes in disrepair – an increase of 26,000.

“This is deeply shocking, especially as we know that it is the most vulnerable people in society who are suffering in these cold, damp and often dangerous living conditions,” he said.

Secretary for infrastructure and capital investment Alex Neil said “serious challenges remain”.