A decision to spend almost half a million pounds refurbishing and maintaining a homeless unit which was never used has been labelled a “disgrace”.
The four-storey property at Queens Close in Montrose was closed after a fire in part of the building in 2007.
A year later Angus Council approved a £355,000 refurbishment which included several upgrades, including more en suite facilities, a new heating system, a £25,000 sprinkler system and £21,500 door entry system.
Changes to legislation meant it was no longer able to get an HMO licence and it has never been used. It was then offered to a housing association who didn’t want it.
Despite the hundreds of thousands of pounds spent, the building was deemed surplus to requirements and has been for sale since 2015.
A freedom of information request shows since the refurbishment, a further £106,000 has been spent by the council on maintaining the building including £38,600 on fuel costs.
The 418 square metres property, which has 11 en suite bedsits, four communal kitchens, a laundry, storage rooms and an attic which could be made into a three bedroom flat, is on the market for offers over £200,000.
The handling of the 10-year saga has been criticised by Jill Scott who formerly worked in the building as a housing support officer.
She said: “It is a disgrace that Angus Council allowed this building to sit for seven years wasting public money before being deemed surplus to requirement. This is not best value for the public pound.
“I call to account those highly paid officers whose job it is to ensure the prudent management of public funds.”
North East MSP Liam Kerr said the building had become a drain on the public purse at a time the council is under financial pressure.
He said: “This sorry saga has been a huge waste of taxpayers’ money.
“It seems incredible that this facility has still not been used despite a bill for hundreds of thousands of pounds in refurbishment and maintenance costs.
“There are questions to be answered here as to why this site was allowed to lie empty for so many years.”
A spokesperson for Angus Council said the initial decision to refurbish the property following the 2007 was taken in “good faith” and with the intention of bringing the property back into use to house homeless people.
“There were subsequent changes in legislation relating to housing support and the licensing of multiple occupancy premises meant the property was no longer suitable and the cost of providing a staffed hostel was no longer affordable,” the spokesman said.
“Accommodation for homeless people is now provided in individual housing units integrated within communities throughout Angus.
“The Queens Close property was not suitable for other housing agency use and following the usual assessment of other potential use by the council, the property was declared surplus to requirements in 2015. It has been on the market since then.”
Addressing the level of maintenance costs, which also included £18,400 spent on phones and £4,000 on cleaning, the council spokesman said: “The vacant property has been maintained to a reasonable saleable standard since 2008.
“This has included some roof repairs to protect adjacent properties from water penetration, rates and energy costs.
“While interest has been expressed in the property, it remains on the market.”
A spokesman for Shepherd Commercial, which is marketing the property, said an offer had recently been received for the property but it had been deemed unacceptable by Angus Council.
