Taxpayers are funding private roof repairs

Almost £700,000 of taxpayers’ cash has been given to homeowners to fix the thatched roofs of their private homes and holiday cottages.

Historic Scotland has dished out £692,000 over the past 18 years to fix thatched roofs.

Many of the thatched properties are worth well in excess of £250,000.

Since 1998 Historic Scotland has spent £692,170 fixing roofs of hundreds of private homes.

A cottage in Collessie was put on the market for £280,000 in 2011 – six years after taxpayers funded a £6,300 repair of their roof.

A spokesman for Taxpayer Scotland said: “It simply is not fair to offer money privileges like this to owners who have taken a private decision to own a house with all the overheads that come with it.”

A Historic Scotland spokesman said: “The average yearly total expenditure for the scheme has been less than £40k per year, which we believe represents excellent value.”