Aberdeen City Council is facing a £16.7million bill to repair ageing high rise flats.
Officials have warned that investment is urgently required to address “water penetration” problems at the seven blocks in the Seaton area.
The authority agreed a programme of works at three multi-storeys – Balgownie Court, Inverdon Court and St Ninian Court – in 2010.
At the time, other blocks including Aulton, Bayview, Beachview, Linksfield, North Sea, Promenade and Regent Courts, were also in need of attention.
However, there were not enough funds available to carry out the required over-cladding and window replacement.
Officials from the local authority have now laid out three options to deal with the problems, including the potential for demolition.
Council sources said that tearing down the blocks is highly unlikely, however.
Housing officials plan to meet with private owners and local councillors to talk through the process. The preferred option is to carry out repairs and window replacements in two phases, with the first starting late in the 2014/15 financial year and due for completion in March 2016.
The second stage has been earmarked to take place between April 2016 and September 2018.
Councillors on the housing and environment committee will discuss the report at a meeting on Tuesday, May 20.