Who Pays? Fabric, Factoring & the Future of Tenements | Blocktalk Podcast скачать в хорошем качестве

Who Pays? Fabric, Factoring & the Future of Tenements | Blocktalk Podcast

In this episode of Blocktalk, Brian Welsh is joined by Paul Sweeney MSP and David Doran (Vice Chair, TPI Scotland) for a wide-ranging and urgent conversation on transparency, trust, and the future of Scotland’s tenements. Prompted by The Times reporting on factoring practices, this episode dives deep into the core issues facing homeowners, factors, and government, including questions of who’s responsible, how costs are shared, and what needs to change. Key themes include: *The reality of “inherited debt” and conveyancing breakdowns *Whether Scotland is sleepwalking into a tenement crisis *Sinking funds, five-year inspections, and the case for patient finance *Misaligned incentives, reactive repairs, and public trust *How better regulation, transparency, and collaboration can protect Scotland’s housing legacy 🎧 Whether you’re a homeowner, policymaker, or property professional, this one’s essential listening. Watch now, share your thoughts, and join the conversation on what comes next. 00:00 – Introduction to Guests & Context 02:20 – What Does a Factor Actually Do? 04:45 – “It’s a Racket”- Paul Sweeney’s Frustration with Factoring 07:05 – Glasgow’s Tenement Crisis: What’s at Stake 10:00 – Who Pays? Sinking Funds, Financing, and Fairness 13:30 – Built to Rent, Not to Own: Historical Challenges 16:00 – Housing Regulation & Transparency: Private vs Public 18:40 – Are Things Really That Bad? Understanding Tribunal Data 21:00 – Long-Term Maintenance vs Short-Term Fixes 23:20 – Innovation in Maintenance: Gutter Cleaning & Scaling Tech 25:30 – How Should Factoring Be Financed? 28:00 – Case Study: Trinity Towers & Conservation Funding Gaps 30:15 – Barriers to Payment: Legal Limits & Human Costs 32:20 – Transparency During Sales: Inherited Debt & Legal Grey Areas 35:45 – Flaws in the Home Report & Survey System 39:40 – Evacuated by Building Control: What Happens When it All Goes Wrong 44:00 – The Urgency of Reform: Heritage at Risk 46:30 – Skills, Jobs & the Virtuous Cycle of Fabric-First Investment 48:20 – First-Tier Tribunal: How Effective Is It? 51:00 – Managing Disputes at Scale 54:45 – The Trouble with Poor Actor Factors 57:30 – Should it Be Easier to Dismiss a Factor? 59:50 – Land Managers, RSLs, and Changing Landscape of Factoring 01:01:45 – The Portal Fee Debate 01:04:10 – Tribunal Case Numbers: Context Matters 01:10:30 – Final Thoughts: Fabric First, Collaboration Always