Scheme helps homes keep up to scratch

A NEW scheme to help homeowners and private landlords to repair, maintain and improve their properties has been launched.

The Scheme of Assistance is part of new housing legislation in East Lothian that aims to improve the condition of properties in the private sector.

The majority of properties in East Lothian are privately owned, but research published by the Scottish Government found that 64 per cent of the county's private sector housing is in "disrepair", with 29 per cent of those properties considered to be in "urgent disrepair" during 2007.

The scheme was approved at a meeting of the council's cabinet last month and came into force on 1 April.

Councillor Stuart Currie, the council's housing leader, said: "The Scheme of Assistance will help private landlords and homeowners to maintain properties by giving them access to a range of expert and trustworthy advice and information.

"Previously, any support was limited to financial assistance through the grants system and, even then, it only applied to certain types of repairs. However, this wasn't enough to help improve the condition of properties."