Current status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 5 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to overcome barriers in (a) getting agreement and (b) securing finances for communal work on multi-tenanted properties.
Homeowners are responsible for the maintenance and repairs needed to keep their homes in good condition. The maintenance of a tenement is usually governed by rules and conditions set out in the title deeds for the flats within the block. Title deeds may set out who owns the common parts of the tenement and who is responsible for them, how decisions are to be made and how costs are to be allocated between owners.
If there is nothing in the title deeds covering maintenance and repair or they are uncertain, the Tenement Management Scheme under the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 makes provision for the maintenance and management of common property in a tenement.
In some cases, maintenance and repairs to tenements may be blocked or delayed by owners who are unable to contribute to common works. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, local authorities have broad discretionary powers to offer assistance, although this will be subject to local priorities and resources. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced a discretionary power for local authorities to pay missing shares on behalf of owners, and we recently announced the launch of a pilot equity loan scheme to assist owners with energy efficiency improvements and essential repairs.