Thousands of residents might have to wait years in order to be released from a historic council insurance policy agreement, according to a new report.
Begrudged homeowners who saw their building insurance bills rise by up to 50% have been calling on a review of the scheme which they were locked into.
According to a new report, due to be presented to councillors next week, 4,474 resident who bought their home from West Dunbartonshire Council between 1987 and 2016 have had to procure their building insurance through the local authority.
However, it has been revealed that due to a 'worsening' amount of claims from Storm Eowyn and through water damage the council say it hurt their case for getting a provider.
The document says "the council's broker have advised there is a limited number of insurers willing to underwrite this type of insurance.
" This low market interest is likely influenced by the current excess levels and the Council’s recent claims history with 717 claims between April 2022 and May 2025 amounting to a total cost the insurer of £2.3m."
When bosses approached different brokers only one tender was received.
An 85% increase was originally presented by the insurance company covering two years, but to balance the rise the authority compromised on a 50% increase for three years of cover.
After residents received their updated bills in April, many contacted the council with concerns over the raise, saying they "were left picking themselves up off the floor" after opening the letter.
Following this, the Labour group called for a review into the Block Building Insurance Scheme which is presented in this report.
The findings outline that if the council were to withdraw from the scheme before the expiry of the current contract, financial penalties would apply in addition to forfeiting £2.5m, which is the insurance premium that is paid in advance.
This has resulted in a recommendation for the elected representatives to agree the continuation of the current policy until March 31, 2028.
This will be debated by councillors at the full West Dunbartonshire Council meeting on Wednesday, October 29.
We previously reported in May, how Ian and Jan MacLeod bought their home on Kimberley Street, Mountblow, from West Dunbartonshire Council in 1990 and were shocked to receive this year's insurance bill rise by 50 per cent.
The couple, who live in a 12-block row of homes, which are a mix of council and privately owned properties, said they had no warning of the steep rise.
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