Why are tenements falling down?

Euan Leitch, Director, Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), and researcher and consultant Douglas Robertson will lead a session at this year’s SFHA Property Repairs and Asset Management Conference that will discuss BEFS’ work that aims to get common property maintenance issues higher up the political and housing agendas.  

Euan will detail the work undertaken with the Parliamentary Working Group on Maintenance of Tenements Scheme Property and its recommendations for compulsory owners’ associations, five-yearly property conditions surveys and reserve funds, while Douglas will set these three proposals within a broader strategic framework which he considers necessary to bring about the desired change. 

BEFS is an umbrella organisation with policy interests across archaeology, buildings and landscapes. Ewan has a background in architectural history and urban planning. He has worked for public bodies, local authorities and charities, and his work has moved from physical conservation to conservation policy. Through BEFS, he engages with MSPs to try and influence policy and legislation that improves the condition of Scotland’s historic environment for the benefit of its people.  

Douglas taught both housing and sociology at the Stirling University for 30 years. During that time, he undertook research on a variety of housing policy matters, including regeneration and renewal, private property ownership and its management, social housing in Europe and Scottish housing and planning history. He now works as a housing consultant, commentator, researcher and writer. He also holds an Honorary Professorship at Stirling. He has a 40-year interest in tenement improvement and repair, common repair systems and has long expressed concerns about the serious persistent limitations of the current legislative framework which endeavours to ensure proper property management and maintenance. He recently concluded a comprehensive policy review of common repair and maintenance issues in Scotland for BEFS.

The conference will take place on Tuesday 3 December at The Arches in Glasgow. Delegate fees for the conference starts at £229 for SFHA members (£319 for non-members) which includes attendance, lunch and all refreshments.    

Book three places and bring a colleague for free     

If your organisation books three day delegates places, it will receive a fourth day delegate place for free.

For more information, or to book your place at the conference, please visit the event webpage