Under One Roof Scotland

📣 Tenements through the ages: a look back 📣 As we conclude our series on Tenements through the ages, let’s take a look back at the evolution of these iconic buildings in Scotland. 🏢 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The traditional sandstone tenements of the pre-1919 era, distinct for their permeability to moisture and breathability, have become a unique part of Scottish cultural heritage. In the inter-war years, we saw the impact that World War One had on tenement buildings, with a move to building in brick and the construction of ‘four-in-a-blocks’. The post-war period saw many older tenements demolished, making way for new buildings constructed with concrete tiles and cavity brick and render walls, and high-rise housing. Today, the modern era brings both new construction and a renewed focus on preserving and retrofitting traditional tenements to meet modern energy efficiency standards, ensuring that these culturally significant buildings can provide safe and sustainable homes for future generations. Thank you for following us on this journey of tenements through the ages! Whether you live in a historic or modern tenement, share a photo with us by sending us a message 📸 #TenementsThroughTheAges #ScottishHeritage

Next up in our FAQs series… What can you do if you can’t get other owners to consent to urgent repairs? There are a few options: 1️⃣ Using the Duty to Maintain 2️⃣ Serving a Notice of Potential Liability 3️⃣ Following emergency repair procedures (if applicable) 4️⃣ Seeking assistance from your local council Don't let repair issues escalate! Learn more about these options and the steps to take in our detailed article: https://lnkd.in/dkN8w7GB #ScottishTenements #UrgentRepairs

Struggling with tracing an absent owner or concerned about an empty property? Let’s take a look at the support available. 🤝 The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) is a charity dedicated to providing free support and advice to property owners and communities affected by vacant properties. Since its creation in 2010, the SEHP have contributed to bringing approximately 10,000 homes back into use. 🙌 The SEHP can provide advice on 👇 - Financing empty home renovations 💰 - Options for selling or renting out an empty home 🏡 - Steps neighbours can take to ensure homes in their community don’t remain empty, using their handy Neighbour Toolkit ⚒️ - Disrepair, anti-social behaviour, and problems relating to environmental health ❌ ️ The images above show a renovation of a long-term empty tenement flat carried out by their partners, the social enterprise letting agency, Homes For Good. Learn more about the work of the SEHP in this guest article for our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eYtqspJz If you need support or advice with an empty home, reach out to the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership directly: https://lnkd.in/enYJZSbm #ScottishTenements #ScottishEmptyHomesPartnership #SEHP

What’s the difference between a skylight and a cupola? 🪟 There are a number of different types of skylights that can be found on tenement buildings. A regular skylight is typically flat or slightly sloped and is usually installed directly into the roof. A cupola is a skylight which is raised up, often found on flat roofs or in central valley double roofs. While cupolas can provide light and ventilation, like skylights, they are also a decorative feature and can enhance the architectural style of a building. 🏠 Problems with skylights and cupolas can include: - lack of ventilation in the common stair, leading to condensation, dampness, and decay - lead cover flashings can be damaged when glass is replaced - large panes of glass can crack, particularly if pinched at a fixing To solve these issues it’s recommended to: - add a top vent to cupolas, especially those over a common stair, to ensure thorough ventilation - ensure lead flashings over joints and glazing bars are fixed if damaged from glass replacement - do not use standard glass – safety glass or wired glass both hold glass together if it cracks The question of who is responsible for repairing skylights and cupolas is legally complex. If the property titles don't clearly specify responsibility for these features and repairs are needed, it's advisable to consult a solicitor for professional advice. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebCCrrh5 #ScottishTenements #Skylight #Cupolas

Are you worried about your walls? Our Repair Checker has you covered🛡️ Concerned about cracks and whether they are serious? Noticing staining on the stone of your building? Or is the brickwork flaking or powdery? 😕 Whether you’re dealing with minor cracks or more serious structural concerns, our Repair Checker will guide you to the right information to help assess the situation. 🛠️ Check it out today to stay on top of your building’s maintenance needs! https://lnkd.in/eV2ddU2E #ScottishTenements #RepairChecker

We’ve added a new FAQs section to our website! 😃 This month we’ll be looking at some of the frequently asked questions that we get from flat owners.❓ Starting with… We need to carry out a common repair but don’t know where to start. Organising a common repair can be tricky. To make the process a little bit easier we put together a decisions-tree guide to take you through the steps. 🌳 The guide includes links to articles on our website for more information about each step. And, if you get stuck, you can send us an inquiry. Download the decisions-tree guide to help you navigate the common repairs process and ensure you’re following proper procedures. ✅ Download the guide: https://lnkd.in/e3i7ZPEh Check out the new FAQs section: https://lnkd.in/eJbd4E2i #ScottishTenements #CommonRepairs

Let’s take a closer look at the features and considerations of balconies. 🔎 Having a balcony can be a great asset to any flat, providing outdoor space and fresh air. However, they can also be sources of cold and dampness if not properly maintained. 🛠️ There are two types of balconies that can be found in tenement buildings: inset and cantilevered. Overcladding systems often avoid inset balcony areas, so the walls behind them will be cold and liable to condensation. This is known as ‘cold bridging’. 🥶 Cantilevered balconies project slightly from the building. The concrete floors are reinforced by steel that may rust and crack the concrete, so they should be checked regularly by a structural engineer. 👷♀️ It’s also important to ensure balustrades and handrails are galvanised and well-painted to prevent rusting. Glazing balconies can make them more versatile and significantly reduce heat loss, transforming them into a sunspace. Learn more about maintaining balconies on our website: https://lnkd.in/epETFZ5U #ScottishTenements #Balconies

Seeking tenement maintenance and repair management training for your factoring company? Look no further! Discover training opportunities with Under One Roof, Scotland's leading charity providing free information to housing professionals. Connect with us today! 👉https://lnkd.in/eDdxAdFz

As we head into autumn and rainfall increases, so does the risk of flooding. ⛈️ With the effects of climate change, flooding incidents in Scotland are on the rise. In fact, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, there were 3,139 flooding incidents reported for 2022/23 alone. 😮 Flooding can cause structural damage to a building’s foundation, and damage to floors, plumbing systems, and electrical systems. 🏚️ Having the right building insurance cover is essential to safeguard properties against potential flood damage. Without insurance, owners may face significant financial burdens for repairs, even if the flooding was beyond their control. It’s crucial for all owners of a tenement flat to have sufficient building insurance. Since it’s not possible to rebuild just one part of a tenement block, the lack of proper coverage for even one owner can create challenges for everyone. Learn more about building insurance on our website: https://lnkd.in/e47zuD8Z #ScottishTenements #BuildingInsurance #FloodProtection

Curious about retrofit and how to get started? In this webinar from Loco Home Retrofit, we hear about Lisa Pasquale’s experience of retrofitting her blonde sandstone tenement flat in Glasgow. 🟢🏠 Watch the webinar to learn how Lisa achieved superior comfort and energy efficiency through strategic insulation and careful draught-proofing. 🙌 She details the methods and materials she used to transform her flat, improve her windows, and reduce energy bills, as well as the physics of heat and how this informed her retrofit strategy. Watch the webinar🔗 https://lnkd.in/ea9BBWUY