Disrepair prevention

The Disrepair Prevention option provides people who are in need of improvements and repairs to their properties with details about where to obtain advice and assistance.

Under the Scheme of Assistance, the council can provide assistance in many ways, including:

• by making leaflets available to help you identify and carry out repair work
• by offering advice to help you manage repair and improvement work yourself, for example, advice on what repairs need to be carried out,
• how to contact architects, surveyors, builders and tradespeople and what to ask them
• how to arrange a loan with a bank, building society, credit union or other lender (although bear in mind that the council can't give financial advice)
• by providing practical help, for example, through care and repair services, to carry out repair work (although the council may charge for these services if you don't meet the usual criteria for care and repair)

Argyll & Bute Council must provide some form of help if:

• you've been given a works notice, or
• you're adapting a home for a disabled person, or
• you need to reinstate a home that's been adapted previously

If you have been served a works notice, the help provided doesn't need to be financial help.

If you are a tenant in the private rented sector and require a repair to be carried out you must notify your landlord. If your landlord does not carry out the repair you can contact the Private Rented Housing Panel by email or phone 0141 242 0142.

If you are a Housing Association tenant and require a repair to be carried out you must notify your landlord. If your landlord does not carry out the repair you can contact the Citizens Advice Bureau by email or phone 0800 731 8337.

For information and advice about improving energy efficiency in your home contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or visit the Energy Saving Trust.