Edinburgh family facing 'financial ruin' over cladding problem which makes flat 'unsellable'

A survey to ensure the property is safe to sell will cost £4,200.
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A family from Newhaven is facing financial ruin after being told their North Edinburgh flat has zero value due to lack of certification over cladding.

Gregg Murray, 39 and wife Emily Murray, 41 own a high-rise property in North Edinburgh which they have been renting out while living abroad in New Zealand.

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Gregg Murray, 39 and wife Emily Murray, 41 own a high-rise property in North Edinburgh which they have been renting out while living abroad in New Zealand.Gregg Murray, 39 and wife Emily Murray, 41 own a high-rise property in North Edinburgh which they have been renting out while living abroad in New Zealand.
Gregg Murray, 39 and wife Emily Murray, 41 own a high-rise property in North Edinburgh which they have been renting out while living abroad in New Zealand.
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The parents of three recently decided to sell the property which was when the couple were told by estate agents that due to issues around cladding the house was “unsellable”.

The property has since been removed from the market and Gregg and Emily were told that before their flat could be put back on sale they needed to get a specific survey done which would confirm that the property is safe to sell.

Survey needed

However, coming in at £4,200 this survey is too expensive for the family who are already struggling due to the loss of income from tenants.

Gregg’s sister Lisa Murray, 41, who is attempting to help her brother find a solution while he is abroad, said: “My brother and his family are close to losing their home and they are financially ruined.”

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Lisa has blamed the Scottish Government for not acting quickly enough when the new rules came in.

She said: “I spoke to the managing director of ESPC, Paul Hilton who told me that there was a meeting about new cladding rules at the Scottish Government on November 22 where the

Scottish Government was pushed to put funding into this issue to help people pay for this survey but everyone I’ve spoken to at the Scottish Government says it’s not their responsibility.

Given that the Scottish Government has been aware of the change in rule for some time now it feels like they have failed to implement the appropriate measures to protect people.

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A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It’s completely wrong to say this situation has been caused by Scottish Government regulations.

"Mortgage lenders introduced a new requirement concerning cladding. Oversight and regulation of the mortgage industry is a matter reserved to the UK Government."