Tenement repairs and common area maintenance

If you own a flat in a tenement, you're usually responsible for maintaining common areas.

Common areas

Common areas are things like:

  • the roof
  • the stairs, close and fire escape
  • external walls and foundations

Tenements

A tenement is a building of 2 or more related flats, divided from each other horizontally.

This includes:

  • high-rise blocks
  • modern apartment blocks
  • four-in-a-block or cottage flats
  • blocks of flats with ground floor shops
  • large houses converted into flats
  • traditional sandstone or granite buildings, usually of 3 or 4 storeys

Property factors

If you have a property factor, they manage repairs and maintenance for you. Check what your property factor is responsible for.

You still need to make decisions with your neighbours in some cases.

If you rent your home

If you rent your home, your landlord is responsible for common areas. Get information on:

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