An app to help the owners of shared properties repair their buildings in Edinburgh has been so successful that other local authorities have chosen to adopt it.

Created by the City of Edinburgh Council with tech company Novoville, the Shared Repairs app launched in April last year and has helped to deliver more than £700,000 in vital repairs across the city.

According to the Council, the app has been so popular with users that the Perth and Kinross and East Ayrshire councils have also announced plans to adopt it.

Developed through the Scottish Government’s CivTech Accelerator programme, the app was designed to make it easier for residents living in shared properties to keep their buildings in good condition.

Notably, the app has attracted twice as many privately owned tenements in a year as the Council usually deals with in that time frame.

Repairs carried out through the app range from £50,000 for extensive roof repairs down to £200 for new door locks or improvements to stonework and gutters.

With around 170,000 tenement flats and other shared buildings in the capital, Edinburgh Council finance convener Mandy Watt said the app has proven vital for tenants seeking repairs.

She commented: “Edinburgh is leading the way in this work in Scotland and it is great news that two other councils are now about to launch it in their area as well. Our Shared Repairs Team is doing a fantastic job helping people who live in shared buildings through the steps they need to take to carry out repairs to their properties. 

“The app helps people take greater control of the process. It’s very accessible and easy to use.”

Recommended

• Scotland to house ‘counter-drone’ technology hub
• Edinburgh recognised as one of UK’s top ‘AI ready’ cities
• £1.4m for Strathclyde Uni to kickstart knowledge exchange

Louis Daillencourt from Novoville said: ”It’s been a pleasure to work with Edinburgh proprietors in the last year to help them fix often longstanding issues, keep their buildings safe, and make them more comfortable.

“Thanks to their feedback, we’ve learnt a lot and invested towards making the app ever simpler to use.”

He added: “This year, we’re progressing on multiple fronts. First, we’re deploying in more local authorities, collaborating with their private sector housing teams to make the app available to more and more owners around the country.”

Get the latest news from DIGIT direct to your inbox

Our newsletter covers the latest technology and IT news from Scotland and beyond, as well as in-depth features and exclusive interviews with leading figures and rising stars. 

To subscribe, click here.