Under One Roof – advice for flat owners

Under One Roof is an online resource providing impartial advice on repairs and maintenance for flat owners in Scotland.

If you live in any kind of building containing flats, you have rights and responsibilities, along with your co-owners, to maintain and manage your building. Under one Roof gives advice on how to work with your neighbours to maintain the building, pay for repairs, and how to deal with owners who won’t pay.

Some flat owners employ property factors, also known as property managers, to manage the common parts of the building. Property factors are governed by the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 which has defined minimum factoring standards. The Act also requires Factors to register and work to a Code of Conduct which sets out how they should deal with owners and repairs.

Further information about owners’ rights and responsibilities, as well as factoring, can be found on the Under One Roof website

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Preventing Fires in Stairwells

We were all shocked by the recent fire at Lordburn Place in Forfar, which was reported in the local press. We’re asking all Council tenants to promote fire safety in and around blocks of flats.

 We take the issue of fire safety very seriously and we want to ensure that tenants and their families are as safe as possible from the dangers of smoke and fire.

Common parts of any shared premises are particularly vulnerable if rubbish is allowed to build up in stairwells.

How you can prevent a fire in your block 

• Do not store rubbish or flammable materials in communal areas.
• Report any build up of such materials immediately to ACCESSLine.
• Keep fire exits and escape routes clear. This could either be a door leading from your home, a balcony walkway or shared landing or staircase. The hall may be the only way out of your home so make sure there is nothing in the way that might slow you down in an emergency.
• Be aware of your nearest fire exits.
• Do not wedge fire doors open.

In the event of a fire

• Call the fire service on 999.
• Use the stairs, not a lift.
• If you are trapped, close the door of your room and use bedding or clothes to block up any gaps under the door that might let in smoke or fumes.
• Shout ‘FIRE’ from the window and tell people to call the fire service.                                                                                                                                          

  What we do to keep flat occupants safe

• We inspect our blocks of flats on a regular basis to identify and report any issues for priority repair – we will take action against anyone who endangers the safety of occupants of blocks by dumping rubbish in stairwells

• We work with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to ensure our blocks of flats are as safe as possible, carrying out regular fire risk audits.

• We carry out Fire Risk Assessments in all communal areas to ensure our blocks meet the highest possible fire standards.
  

If you have any concerns regarding the safety of your building,

 contact your local housing team

on ACCESSLine 03452 777 778

  

 

 

 

8 brand new Shared Equity Homes available for sale in Carnoustie

Caledonia Housing Association is now taking applications for their shared equity properties at Anderson Street, Carnoustie.

The development which consists of 8 two-bedroom flats and is part of a wider private development by Ogilvie Homes, overlooks the golf course.

The properties should be ready in November 2017 and offer a route into home ownership for those households on lower incomes.

To find out how to apply, as well as the qualifying criteria, please visit Caledonia HA Shared Equity page

This exciting new development is part of a wider programme of affordable housing developments in Angus supported by the Scottish Government.

For information on all the affordable housing developments underway in Angus please visit our Housing Developments page.