ALMOST half of Glasgow's privately owned homes are in urgent need of repair.

From Shawlands to Battlefield, and King's Park to Woodlands, a new report warns that historic properties are starting to crumble.

In a bid to tackle the care and maintenance problem, the city council has set aside £8.4 million to ensure Glasgow homes are brought up to a reasonable standard.

Although tenements make up around 70% of the city's housing stock, a large number of people stay in them for only a couple of years before selling up, meaning they are reluctant to pay big bills to repair or maintain the property.

The average cost for a major repair to a common close is about £250,000, but bills can soar with each owner in a close facing bills in excess of £50,000.

Some 5000 properties, made up of 4000 flats and more than 300 shops, has been recorded by the council as being in need of repair.

Liz Cameron, the city council's executive member for jobs and the economy, states in the report: "More than half the housing stock in the city is in private ownership

"Therefore, it is essential for the future growth of the city that its condition is maintained and improved over time so this sector remains an attractive choice for Glasgow's citizens and people wanting to move here.

"Our older properties are an important part of Glasgow's built heritage.

"Over 95,000 homes which are owner occupied or privately let were built pre 1945."

The survey of Scotland's housing found 45% of private homes in Glasgow are in 'urgent disrepair' compared to only 20% for the rest of Scotland.

'Urgent disrepair' is described as any work, which if not carried out, would cause the building to deteriorate further and could place the health and safety of the occupier at risk.

Of those which need urgent repairs, almost two thirds are tenement or four in a block properties.

The main area of concern is with pre-1919 tenements.

The majority of these flats are in the private sector with half owner-occupied and 30% privately rented.

Mrs Cameron said: "In the private sector, just under a quarter of households live in their property for up to two years with 40% living in the property for up to five years.

"The impact of this is that owners do not wish to invest in repairing their property, the investment required is often considerable."

Concentrations of older private houses in poor condition can be found in East Pollokshields, Strathbungo, Shawlands, Langside and Battlefield and between Woodlands Road and Great Western Road.

But the area with the greatest problem is Govanhill.

Mrs Cameron added: "Govanhill has been giving rise to particular concern because of the coincidence of poor housing conditions, neighbourhood management problems, some unsatisfactory private landlords and issues around migrants.

"There are also smaller but important concentrations of poor conditions in Ibrox/Cessnock and in Dennistoun and signs of some other significant problems, sometimes among four in a block houses, in Parkhead, King's Park, Cardonald and Mansewood."

Property owners are responsible for the repair and maintenance of their homes but repairs to some tenements stall because it is impossible to get all the owners to agree to the work.

But the council can step in and help, provided at least half of the owners agree to the work.

It can pay the share of owners who refuse to agree to allow work to start and will then pursue them for the cash, along with its costs.

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk