There are a number of defined occasions when you must allow access to your flat to allow for communal repairs and associated works. In terms of the Tenements (Scotland) Act…
There is legal protection for owners who do not agree with majority decisions. The circumstances are relatively limited. If the decision has been made using the default rules within the…
You need to have a written agreement with any trade firm before you finally accept a quote and work starts on the ground. For smaller jobs, under £1,000 or so,…
If you are not able to change your property titles, you and your fellow co-owners can agree to temporarily divide shares differently to what is stated in the titles. The…
Common repairs refers to the parts of the building for which all owners as a group are responsible for maintaining. Note: This is not strictly the language used with the…
If you feel that establishing a property management agreement could improve the overall running of your block of flats or tenement and create a more harmonious living environment for residents,…
It's good practice to have a list of owners and their contact details, including email addresses and phone numbers, if possible. When making decisions, you should take all reasonable steps…
Owners may feel aggrieved if one owner, their visitors, or tradespeople they have employed, have caused damage to the common property. Ideally, the owner concerned should pay for the damage,…
When you need to speak to a neighbour, prepare yourself in advance. Be prepared first of all, get your facts in order, so you know what options are available to both…
Whether repairs to dormer windows are individual or common depends on when they were built. If dormer windows were built at the same time as the rest of the building,…
The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 imposed on every owner a duty to maintain the parts of the tenement that provide support and shelter. This would apply to leaking roofs, rot…
Some simple rules can help you to have a good meeting and keep owners coming back to finish business. You could circulate your meeting rules in advance. Take turns to…
Emergency repairs are defined as those that: really cannot wait for a scheme decision to be made are required to prevent damage to your building are in the interests of…
There are a number of options for enforcing repairs that you can take yourself, some with legal help. There are other solutions that can only be implemented by your local…
Even if you live in a house rather than a flat, you may still have common responsibilities that apply to the housing estate around you. Problems may often occur on:…
You need to get together a long list of potential tradespeople and then check out the firms to reach your shortlist. Ask your shortlisted trade firms to give you a…
Gardens can be a very useful asset for your building and some good plans for improving buildings often come out of owners' discussions over a back garden BBQ. But who…
If you don't know the condition of your building, you don't know how to prioritise repairs. A survey can give an objective assessment of the issues for you and your…
If you need an educated guess about what a repair will cost, ask for an estimate. If you want a considered, fixed price, ask for a quote. Putting together a…
You have a legal responsibility to consider health and safety matters on every building contract. If you employ a professional to manage building work, they will take over all these…
Your council has a number of powers it can use to enforce repairs. However, not every council has the resources to do so. This can stop a council from taking…
Sometimes, the need for repair is obvious, such as when you have a damp patch. However, planned repairs can save you money - a stitch in time saves nine. Even…
Repairs for which a single owner is responsible are called 'individual repairs'. These are generally the inside of the flat, doors to individual flats, and windows. Repairs for which a…
You need formal agreement from your co-owners at specific points in commissioning a repair. But, it is also good practice to keep everyone posted of progress throughout the repair process.…
What to do when a flat is owned by a couple or a partnership. As always, check your title deeds on this matter. If there is nothing there, then the default…
Keeping the common areas clean is part of your maintenance obligations. These obligations are set out in law and in your title deeds. Like common repairs, you are almost always…
You need to check your title deeds to see if they define what 'repairs' and 'improvements' are for your building. Title deeds are often very vague on these issues, especially those…
Some parts of the building are shared between some, but not all, owners. Typically, these are parts of the building that only some owners use. The owners that don't have…
Owners are responsible for paying for repairs from the time a properly agreed scheme decision to go ahead with work is reached (or in the case of work carried out…
Meetings are the best means of communicating with owners as everyone gets a chance to ask questions and share their point of view. You don't necessarily need a meeting to…
An owners' association is a formal arrangement between the owners of your building. It arranges regular meetings to discuss how your building will be managed and maintained. By 'formal' we…
One of the biggest changes to tenement and flat living in the past decade has been the increase in the number of flats which are rented out rather than owner-occupied.…
Check your contract with the builder to see what scope you have for complaints. Use their complaints procedure first, and then escalate to their trade association complaints procedure (if they…
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 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 may be a common responsibility. Always refer to your title deeds to check who owns the…
Land ownership is public information, as is the name of landlords. Landlords You can search for the details of a private landlord through the Scottish Assessors website. However, this information is…
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…
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…
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. The default rules in the…
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…
The first short talk of the day was delivered by architect Ingvar Maxwell, who explored the history of stone in Scottish buildings from the prehistoric age until the 20th century. He explained how…
Mortgage lenders now require that those buying flats with cladding to provide…
Your tenement may have a basement, sometimes used for living accommodation or…
Insulation, draught-proofing and improved glazing can save money, improve comfort and reduce…
Recent research suggests that traditional solid stone or brick walls provide better…
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