Homeowners in Lochend, Edinburgh, say a council-supported retrofit of their tenement blocks has left them dealing with roof leaks, damp and costly repairs. Private owners are also being asked to pay their share of the work, which one resident says comes to more than £20,000.
The project aims to make older tenements more energy efficient and bring them up to modern standards. The blocks house a mix of council tenants and private owners. A council spokesperson said the buildings date from the 1920s and need essential repairs and upgrades. Because council tenants and private owners share the same buildings, the owners are asked to contribute to the cost of the upgrade alongside the council.
Aga Barys, who owns a flat in one of the blocks, hired builders to fix damage caused during the works, including roof leaks, at a cost of more than £7,000. She said three properties on her floor each had a leak, and that residents have lived with the conditions for over a year. “It was like walking through hell,” she said. Her share of the retrofit costs, including a council management fee, is above £20,000. Barys still supports the scheme and says it was overdue after years of neglect.
Another owner, Rita Cicellini, said her roof was left exposed during the work and that damp patches appeared during heavy rain. She believes the job remains unfinished. “It looks like they came with a chainsaw,” she said. Contractors have paid for the repairs at Barys’s home and are expected to return to carry out remedial work at Cicellini’s property. For Barys, that means the bill for her own builders sits on top of the share she owes for the retrofit itself.
Residents, backed by the tenants’ union Living Rent, want lessons learned before similar projects go ahead elsewhere in the city. Councillor Tim Pogson, convener for housing, homelessness and fair work, said private owners must pay their share of the costs. He said the council has case officers available to answer owners’ questions, that payments can be spread over 15 years, and that some owners may qualify for Scottish Government grant funding depending on their circumstances. The council has said the 1920s blocks need the work to bring them up to a modern standard, and that owners can contact their case officer about payment options.
