More than 200 people attended an open meeting at a hotel on the South side of Edinburgh to discuss allegations that the city council allegedly mismanaged repair work to their homes.

A presentation was made by Gordon Murdie, a Quantity Surveying expert who also spoke in a recent BBC documentary called, “Scotland’s Property Scandal." Below, Mr Murdie shares his personal thoughts on the outcome of the open meeting.

“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.”

There must be some explanation why the PA system didn’t work and the chairs were set out facing the wrong way to view the Powerpoint presentation on the hotel’s screen – not that it mattered since the projector was ceiling mounted 12 feet off the floor and set to the wrong channel.

With the remote control unavailable and none of the people attending having a ladder with them to reach the projector, the meeting pressed on valiantly in adversity.

Set aside any thoughts of those attending being a bunch of rabble rousers intent on avoiding paying a bill.

This is a group of genuine, decent people who have been extremely badly let down.

The fact is that there is something deeply wrong with the management of Statutory Repairs in Edinburgh and people should not be asked to pay for work that: was not necessary; was not done properly; was not done at all; was not instructed; was priced at incorrect, inflated rates; was not brought to their attention.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s very own Statutory Notice management procedures (for which a 15% fee is charged) set down that “keeping owners informed of progress on site and any cost increases” is a part of the service.

This struck a somewhat hollow note.

A survey return of those in attendance was processed during the evening by a systems analyst and we learned that contract values had risen from quotations of £4.783 million to “Final Accounts” of a staggering £13.624 million. Contract values nearly trebling according to just one snapshot survey of people in one room.

The detailed survey, which could not be graphically displayed due to “happenstance”, showed that the EH7 postcode was home to the largest overspend/overcharge.

This extract from the City of Edinburgh Council’s own internal procedures document drew nods of resigned understanding:

"Cost Information- Do not give out details of estimated costs or what the likely costs are going to be.

"Note: previous experience has shown that even phone calls will be recorded and the information used, possibly for the purposes of conveyance of a property. Owners regularly seek the council to meet the difference between estimated sums and final costs if any cost increase occurs.

"Our policy, which you are to follow, is to give no estimated costs (other than letter-B which is the pre-start information letter) and only provide details of costs at the end of the project once the final account is signed and any cost split calculation has been done. If you are not sure how to handle this situation refer the inquirer to the PM."

Following what would have been, but for “happenstance”, a slide show presentation, the meeting moved on to open questions.

It was readily observed that being faced with bills of the substance, provenance and magnitude of those being issued by City of Edinburgh Council, their “Final Notices” and visits from Sheriff Officers badly affect people’s lives.

Experiences too numerous to mention were shared – none of them good. Whether there be misfeasance or not behind all this, thousands of people will continue to endure misery over the Statutory Notice mess until it is resolved.

Working on “Scotland’s Property Scandal” was an eyeopener and there is a veritable mass of concerning findings far too detailed and technical to fit into a hard hitting half hour programme.

Listening to the points raised from the floor underlined the extent of the financial shambles dispensed upon so many.

Many of those who are facing enormously increased outstanding bills will probably be asking, through the Freedom of Information Act, for a detailed breakdown of the original accepted tender and a similarly detailed breakdown of the Final Account.

Edinburgh Council are not known to be checking why bills have escalated so it is down to the owners to jointly appoint an appropriate Quantity Surveyor to arrive at a fair value for the works taking absolutely every aspect into account.

Suggestions have been made that if owners then pay the independently assessed fair contract value (less their necessary QS fee) then that would be the end of the matter.

For those that have already paid and suspect overcharging, then an independent audit by a QS could form the basis of a small claims recovery or a mammoth joint litigation depending on circumstances.

Written by Gordon Murdie. Gordon Murdie is a Quantity Surveyor who works for Quantus QS

IN DETAIL:

Residents to meet over city repairs scandal

Edinburgh Councillors call for progress report on Statutory Notice corruption probe

Edinburgh Residents for Statutory Notice Reform Facebook Group

Image credit: pathlost