If you live in any kind of building containing flats, you have rights and responsibilities, along with your co-owners, to maintain and manage common repairs in your building.
Property factors, also known as property managers, are employed by you and your co-owners to manage the common parts of your building. Property factors are governed by the Property Factors…
The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 set up a detailed Code of Conduct which property managers must adhere to. This is a summary. Written Statement of Services A property factor (manager)…
Council officers and police need proof of antisocial behaviour. They may be able to provide this themselves, but you can also help, and its simple and safe to do. You…
Often used on larger jobs, a quantity surveyor will normally be brought in by your architect or surveyor. On jobs of the size or larger than a full roof replacement, a…
If you have common repairs underway, even if you have only got as far as getting agreement, you can make sure that owners who sell their flats don't disrupt the…
You should start the process of resolving complaints informally and work through the increasingly formal steps if you need. Start informally The first thing to do if you have a…
Some rules apply to all flatted buildings, regardless of what the titles say. The rules that apply to every flat are: a requirement to have common building insurance the Duty to Maintain…
Many flats are self-factored. To get the best experience from this, you need to be well-organised and prepared to call on professional help when required. Many buildings self-factor as the owners…
Good property management is a good selling point. Purchasers want to know they are buying into a property with a good future, rather than a pile of problems. The first…
Problems may occur where flats have been subdivided, merged, or enlarged into the loft or basement after the title deeds were drawn up. Ideally, title deeds for all flats should…
If there is nothing in your title deeds or your deeds are unworkable, follow the guidance in the Tenements Act. The Tenements (Scotland) Act says that you should share repair…
Shops and commercial premises in tenements and blocks of flats need to follow the same rules as other types of owners. Share of repairs Shops may not always be responsible…
If you are considering legal action, it is worth talking to a solicitor first. You may be able to get a free first interview or legal aid - ask your…
A structural engineer can advise on the significance of cracks or subsidence and any remedial measures you need to take. You should enlist the help of a structural engineer if…
A building surveyor will help you specify, tender for, and supervise repairs. They will also carry out building condition surveys and prepare maintenance plans. There are several types of surveyor,…
If you have a dispute with a co-owner that you have been unable to resolve through meetings and discussions, you can use mediation or go to the Sheriff Court to…
In some cases, the loft may be individually owned. However, repairs to the loft are a common responsibility. Often, the loft space belongs to the flat immediately below it - but as always,…
Land ownership is public information, as is the name of landlords. Landlords You can search for the details of a private landlord through the Land Register. Note that it may take…
Trade associations will register members and make, at the least, paper checks to ensure that the member is legitimate, solvent, and has appropriate qualifications. They all have an online service…
Your titles may set out the share to be paid by each owner in a number of ways. The most common ways that costs are shared are by: equal shares…
If you have followed correct procedures and your co-owners still won't pay their share for common or mutual repairs, you can use the new Simple Procedure claims action at the…
These are the rules that apply in most tenements, but you must check your own tenement rules in case there are differences. While most title deeds are straightforward in this…
What or where is the problem? Stonework Worn/decaying/flaking stone Staining on stones Cracked stones Cracked stones Rusting steel pins crack stones Crack in previous stone repair Bulging walls Bulging walls…
Your responsibility in a flatted building doesn't just extend to paying for common repairs. If you are responsible for maintaining a part of a building you are required to: keep…
Antisocial behaviour is behaving in a way that is causing or is likely to result in alarm, intimidation, or distress. It can include a sequence of activities that has these…
As always, check your title deeds to see what applies to your building. If there is nothing, or it is unworkable, then act as below. Decisions about maintenance are made by a…
There is a lot that can be done to make it easier to cope with work on-site and get the best from your chosen firm. If you have employed an…
Your tenement may have a basement, sometimes used for living accommodation or sometimes used for storage, cellars or wash-houses. These buildings will often also have a 'dunny' between the basement…
Adding insulation and draught-proofing can save money and the planet but in…
Recent research suggests that traditional solid stone or brick walls provide better…
Flat roofs can be found on buildings of all ages. They can…
On stone tenements, asphalt roofs are found on: 'high backs' - raised backcourt…
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