Routine asbestos re-inspections in the shared areas of Renfrewshire's council housing have stalled, because the contractors the council relies on don't have the capacity to carry them out, according to a report going to councillors tomorrow.
The council's latest landlord safety report, covering April to September 2026, goes to the Communities and Housing Policy Board at Renfrewshire House in Paisley on Tuesday 27 October. It tracks 26 safety measures across gas, electrics, fire, lifts, water and asbestos. Twenty-three are rated above 99%, two are amber and one is red.
Asbestos re-inspections at 0%
The red measure is asbestos in common areas such as closes, stairwells and shared spaces. Every site has been surveyed, but 1,350 of them now need asbestos-containing materials re-inspected, and none of those re-inspections have been completed on time so far this year.
The council says demand for asbestos surveys has risen sharply because of its bigger investment programme in council homes, and the contractors appointed through the national Scotland Excel framework can't keep up. To get things moving again, it's arranging a short-term direct contract so common area re-inspections can restart, while an open tender is run to find suppliers with enough capacity for the longer term. The new contract will cover both asbestos surveys and common area inspections.
External consultants have also helped the council review how it manages asbestos. A new policy has been approved, staff training materials have been updated, and an asbestos register is being built into the council's new housing management system.
Electrical checks
The two amber ratings are both electrical. Some 1,193 electrical safety inspections were carried out in the six months, and the council says it's on schedule to hit its target of 2,400 for the year. There are 394 lower-level "potentially dangerous" faults waiting on follow-up work, all with appointments booked, while anything classed as an immediate danger is always made safe straight away.
Of 103 tenanted homes where the electrical check was overdue, most are now done or booked, with 26 still outstanding because of access or other complex issues. The council says it's working with tenants, housing officers and social services to get those checks done, and has started sending texts and emails alongside letters after Royal Mail delays affected appointment scheduling.
Gas, fire, lifts and water
All 10,558 council homes with gas need an annual safety check. Two were missed in the period: one has since been completed and the other is being handled with support for the tenant. Fire risk assessments for multi-storeys, sheltered housing and the common areas of all blocks are up to date, and lift inspections and water safety checks are fully compliant.
Fire safety reviews of the area's multi-storey blocks are also under way. The first two reports are with the Scottish Government for review, and the remaining 14 are due to be finished this autumn.
The report is for councillors to note, so no decision is needed.