THE ability of homeowners to hire and fire factors and maintenance firms is to be investigated by MSPs.

The short inquiry by the Justice Committee will focus on the practical operation of 2003 legislation, with a call for evidence issued today from interested individuals and organisations.

Committee convener Christine Grahame said: "Existing legislation in the 2003 Act appears inflexible, complicated and impractical for homeowners who want to exercise their right to switch property factors.

"There also seems to be no satisfactory recourse for homeowners unhappy with land-owning maintenance companies."

She said the committee hoped this piece of focused post-legislative scrutiny would achieve a positive outcome for thousands of affected homeowners.