Edinburgh Council will no longer act as the factor of certain blocks of flats in the city following agreement at Monday’s housing committee.

Councillors voted 6 to 5 in support of the move, against the SNP group’s amendment calling for a delay in any decision.

Additions from the Liberal Democrats and Greens on the conditions that any replacement factors will be required to meet were written in.

The City of Edinburgh Council is currently the minority owner in several blocks of flats: Maidencraig Court (7.14%), Westfield Court (34.04%), Coillesdene House (17.07%), and several blocks in Saunders Street in Stockbridge.

Westfield Court, which is currently embroiled in a row over its future, will not be impacted, and the Council will continue as factor for that building.

The Council plays several roles when it comes to high-rise blocks – the property factor, co-owner, landlord, and local authority all at the same time.

By way of explanation a council officer said: “My view on this is that the four minority blocks that we have, the council has ownership in at the moment.

“Ultimately, at some stage in the near future or the more distant future, the council will no longer have these properties, and therefore that is why I am recommending that we start to move to remove ourselves as factor in those blocks, but supporting owners in order to transition to another organisation that can do that for the other majority owned blocks or fully owned council blocks.

“I fully take on board that we may want to take an opportunity to review what resources we have in place, and I suppose more importantly, what core services do we want to provide as officers through a factor in service in these majority or field council own blocks moving forward, and that is something that I will want to have a look at in the near future.”