EDINBURGH homeowners and ­businesses will see a steep rise in building repairs bills and additional charges under new plans to replace a fraud-hit council department.

City of Edinburgh councillors will today consider a report on the future of Edinburgh's Shared Repairs Service, the replacement for the axed Property Conservation Department and how it will be funded.

It will require £500,000 to cover its losses since it was introduced in its basic form in April, and will be funded next year by a stop-gap reserve.

It means a potential rise on the ­previous administration charge for the repairs service, with the council also billing homeowners or businesses for property inspections.

A separate report due to go to the full council meeting next week is also expected as the service evolves.

Under the old Statutory Notice scheme the council charged owners the 15% of their bill to cover administration costs for emergency repairs or work to ­potentially dangerous buildings.