Shared Buildings, Shared Problems — and a Potential Reset
If you own a flat in a tenement, you’ll know the real stress often isn’t inside your home — it’s everything you share. Leaking roofs, failing gutters, stalled repairs and endless chasing to get agreement. Too often buildings slip into disrepair not because owners don’t care, but because no one is clearly in charge.
A new report from the Scottish Law Commission proposes a major change: compulsory Owners’ Associations for all tenements and shared buildings in Scotland. Every multi-owner block would automatically form a legal association responsible for maintenance decisions, budgeting, and appointing a manager or factor where needed.
Why owners should pay attention
Current pain points are familiar:
- Urgent repairs delayed because no one has authority to act
- Disputes over split costs and missing paperwork
- One or two owners carrying all the admin burden
- Planned works ignored until they become emergencies
Compulsory Owners’ Associations aim to fix this by creating clear accountability. Decisions could be made more quickly, costs planned in advance, and responsibility shared fairly across all owners — not just the most proactive ones.
The upside — and the worries
Done well, this could mean better building condition, fewer disputes, and less stress. But owners will understandably worry about higher costs, loss of control or being outvoted. The success of the model will depend on transparent accounts, fair voting rules and transparent dispute resolution.
The 7days view
This isn’t about adding bureaucracy — it’s about making shared ownership actually work. If these proposals move forward, buildings that already have clear records, realistic budgets, and professional support will be best placed to adapt. Our transparent and efficient factoring portal is well placed to integrate with any concrete (or sandstone...) legislation.
We're cautiously optimistic about the proposals, and are watching developments closely so we can help owners get ahead of change, not react to it in crisis mode.
Want to understand what this could mean for your building?
We have a full review coming soon on our website, but in the meantime you can:
- Book a free 15-minute call with us to talk it through and get practical, no-pressure advice
- Start a conversation at hello@7days.property
Article by our factoring company 7days.property
