Solving tenement repair problems
Use this 'how to' guide for undertaking common repair problems in all types of flat.
Tenement repair problems can result from a number of causes, such as:
- owners fail to agree on repairs - perhaps because they have difficulties in paying their share of repair costs or don't understand their common repair responsibilities, or maybe they just can't be contacted
- problems with builders - poor standards for work or being unable to find a tradesman who can carry out good work
- knowing what repairs need to be tackled
- poor management, possibly due to problems with your property factor or manager
Sometimes, the problem is a combination of all of these and you need a strategic approach. We suggest the following:
- Print off this poster from this website and display it somewhere other owners can see it.
- Use the repair checker on the home page to assess where your problem is coming from and how serious it is. Many owners just don't realise that ignoring a repair problem is probably a costly mistake. Ideally, if you can get other owners to pay, get a professional survey and costed recommendations of which repairs need to be tackled first.
- Check your repair responsibilities. These may be found in your title deeds and in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 (this act applies to all types of flat in Scotland, not just older stone tenements).
- Check out the process for agreeing on repairs - again this may be found in your title deeds and the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004.
- Hold a meeting of owners. If you can't get owners to a meeting, you can tackle issues by email, phone or post. Find out more about contacting absentee owners. If you have a meeting, use any of our presentations to make your meeting more effective.
- Consider setting up an owners association.
- If owners are struggling to cope with the problem, help them to get advice - including financial advice.
- Follow all proper procedures - that way you'll be able to enforce repairs, either with help from your council or by taking legal action.
- Use our organising repairs guide and our articles on finding a good builder, getting quotes and supervising repairs to help manage the repairs process smoothly.