Energy debt is issue for council housing

Council houses are sitting empty for weeks due to delays in energy firms dealing with the debts of previous tenants.

One housing officer spent three-and half-hours on a call to Scottish Power last week trying to follow through contacts to gain access to supply to an empty property.

Suppliers are facing revolt from West Lothian and other councils, calling for a simplified system dealing with empty council homes.

West Lothian has been trying to tackle a housing waiting list of around 10,000 for years and with council housing at a premium, the number of properties sitting empty for weeks has desperate people demanding to know why.

Local housing manager Graeme McKee said:“There continues to be weekly monitoring to allow properties to be let as soon as we can.”

At recent meeting, Councillor Willie Boyle asked:“There seems to be an inordinate length of time to turn some properties around. Is there a trend behind it? Is it something we’re missing? The longer it takes to fill these voids the longer it take us to address these waiting lists.”

Graham Ross, the new repairs manager for the Bathgate ward, said he had done some analysis in the past six or eight weeks to see what had changed.

He explained:“The turnover generally is 16 per week. We’re only doing 12 just now and there are three separate issues, we think, are affecting that.

“There’s a bigger issue with utilities because there’s more debt as houses become empty. There’s higher levels of debt and it’s taking a lot longer to get it cleared so we can work in the house.

“The number of category C houses, which need a lot more work,is higher. Our workforce has been reduced significantly over the past two years, and we have had problems with recruitment and selection.”

Mr Ross said the council was trying to partner with a supplier called Utilita which would deal with clearing accounts to allow repairs staff quicker access

At the moment it can take up to ten days before repair teams can get access.

Under the planned scheme Utilita would deal directly with the suppliers and become the main supplier for the property.

A new tenant can then choose which supplier to take on, or to remain with Utilita.