Success for innovative Missing Shares building repair scheme

Since September 2021 Perth and Kinross Council's Missing Shares pilot service has provided support and advice to owners in shared buildings to allow significant communal repairs, such as roof repairs, to take place.

As a last resort the service also provides a mechanism to pay a recoverable missing share for the minority of owners who are unwilling or unable to pay their share to progress any necessary works.

This money comes from the Council's second homes budget - made up of Council Tax money from people with second homes in Perth and Kinross. In all cases repayment is secured through the property titles but in most cases, recovery is fast, either through timely payment or structured payment plans, typically over five years.

The support of the Missing Shares service has resulted in an improvement of the condition and safety of buildings across Perth & Kinross, including Perth, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Abernethy, Kinross, Scone and Milnathort, positively benefitting residents, businesses, and the wider public.

Since it began, the service has grown from strength to strength, delivering clear benefits to users and generating savings across the Council and beyond:

• Over 250 enquiries have been handled, resulting in £4 Million worth of communal repairs, with £1Million of these repairs successfully completed solely through the provision of support and advice to the property owners.
• Only 29 Missing Shares applications were required, of which 19 are now concluded. Notably, five required no payment as the owners paid prior to completion of works.
• We delivered communal repair information sessions in partnership with organisations such as Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust, Under One Roof, and Novoville. These were complemented by building condition and maintenance tours in Perth City Centre and the establishment of a 'Buildings in Disrepair' working group.
• Collaborative working has continued across PKC services, including Housing Repairs, PKC Lets, Vacant Properties, Building Standards, and Environmental Health, and with external partners, particularly Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust. These joint efforts have enhanced support, improved efficiency, and unlocked additional funding.

In June 2024 it was agreed to extend the Missing Shares Service pilot and the employment of a Missing Shares Officer for a further three years, until September 2027.

The future development of the service will now be discussed at a meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on Wednesday 26 November.

Councillors will be asked to support the ongoing use of second homes budget for the service in recognition of the increasing demand for larger repair projects, requiring more significant shares.

Committee Vice Convener, Councillor Sheila McCole said: "The Missing Shares service has undoubtedly been a significant success. The absence of this assistance would see people living in conditions adversely affecting their health, would lead to unsafe homes and properties, and a reduction in available housing stock.

"Due to the success of the service demand is rapidly increasing it is important that we look to continue this valuable work. We are delighted to be able to bring forward a proposal to continue the support for the Missing Shares Service, a move that would benefit many residents into the future and also help preserve the built environment here in Perth and Kinross."