A GLASGOW MSP has backed a council scheme that saw random reports of 500 tenement blocks... but owners are furious at his challenge that they have "buried their heads in the sand".

The Glasgow Times told on Tuesday how a Glasgow City Council scheme to assess the standard of pre-1919 tenement stock had unintended consequences for some owners.

Catriona Forrest told how her flat sale fell through due to the advisory report while others say their property values have plummeted.

But John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, said owners should count themselves lucky they received a free survey.

In a letter to this paper he wrote: "This is good news that Glasgow City Council is highlighting that flat owners need to maintain their properties.

"I myself live in a tenement flat and would dearly love a survey to be carried out with someone else paying.

"For too long many of us flat owners have buried our heads in the sand and have tried to pretend we could live in a tenement without maintaining the building.

"I find it disappointing if some owners do not want to know the truth about their building’s condition.

"I fully support the Council’s analysis of the condition of tenements in the city."

But owners affected by the random survey, which saw a selection of properties across the city assessed by drone last year, have hit back.

Billy Rodgers, whose Battlefield tenement was found by the council to need an estimated £136,000 of work, said Mr Mason had misunderstood the situation.

He said: "I am not against carrying out essential work, nor are the other owners who occupy my block.

"Having spoken to the council, its report will not make us eligible for any grant, and to go ahead with works we would still have to have another survey completed and pay for this ourselves.

"Mr Mason is well within his rights to do the same and commission his own survey, but this is his choice.

"We however have a report that gives no eligibility for a grant but has damming impacts on our ability to sell and according to a solicitor has effectively wiped £20,000 off our property values.

"The bottom line is this is not a report we asked for and we have received nothing for free except confusion, a lack of clarity and support.

"I wish him luck with his survey and accessing a grant.

"Mr Mason seems to have totally missed the whole point of our concerns."

The condition of Glasgow's 100-year-old tenement stock is a recognised issue with buildings around the city falling into disrepair and, in some cases, suffering collapse.

In his response to the issue, Mr Mason said he sat on the Parliamentary Working Group on the maintenance of Tenements, which published its report in June 2019.

As Mr Mason points out, regular maintenance work is necessary but multiple owners can make it difficult to organise and pay for works when there is no factor.

The MSP added: "We must bring Glasgow’s tenements up to standard and ensure that they are well maintained.

"This is not going to be easy, cheap, or popular.

"But I do hope the council’s survey can help in moving this forward."

Catriona saw her flat sale fall through after her solicitor advised the buyers should be shown the council report detailing £159,000 of work needed.

The council stresses the report is not a home survey and so is not a relevant document to inform or influence the sales chain.

But Catriona said: "I agree with John Mason that the repair of Glasgow's tenement buildings is important, and am grateful for his interest and his participation in the Parliamentary Working Group on the maintenance of tenements.

"Like most people who live in a tenement, I love these historical buildings and am glad I've had the chance to live in one.

"For those buildings which are factored, professional property managers are at the heart of this issue - these buildings need regular surveys and upkeep, and the factors are neglecting their responsibility to advise and guide homeowners.

"They must be forced to earn their money and a reform of the factoring system is urgently required.

"The issue is of course far larger than one individual house sale falling through.

"My situation is just an early indication of what is to come.

"Since Tuesday's article I've been contacted by other owners frightened by the reports and the sums involved at this time of pandemic and financial crisis.

"The timing of the release of these reports was irresponsible.

"John is incorrect about one thing. These are not free surveys."

The Glasgow City Council report on Catriona's flat is dated December 2019 but she received it in November 2020. She added: "If I had seen that report in reasonable time - say January, February or March 2020 - I would have made very different decisions in 2020.

"I would not have made an offer on my intended new home. I would not have tried to sell my flat.

"I would have encouraged my neighbours to agree to a 'proper' survey, and perhaps by now we would have been some way down the road to finding grants and commissioning work on the most urgent repairs.

"I've been appalled to learn that the council is continuing to advise owners that they need not reveal these reports to potential buyers.

"I feel this is immoral, placing everyone in the sales chain on shaky legal ground.

"We urgently need a coordinated response from owners, estate agents, solicitors, and Glasgow City Council which will help find a solution to the important issue of ongoing maintenance to Glasgow's housing stock."