THE Evening Times today launches a major campaign for a fair deal from Glasgow's factors. Over the next week we will highlight claims of shoddy and shameful practices.
(And they can take as long as they want to do it)
THE Evening Times today launches a major campaign for a fair deal from Glasgow's factors. Over the next week we will highlight claims of shoddy and shameful practices.
From excessive charges and expensive repairs to poor workmanship, unexplained bills and even court action, the problems are massive.
More than 100,000 Glasgow homes have a factor, a number set to rise due to the high number of new developments springing up around the city.
Most residents have no say in who their factor is - and many feel ripped off and let down by firms described by one city lawyer as "a law unto themselves".
We highlight how anyone can set themselves up as a factor and charge what they want for the simplest repair jobs.
Poor service affects those living in almost every sector of housing, from traditional tenements to plush new riverside pads, ex-council houses to new private housing estates.
The Evening Times is backing moves by Glasgow MSP Patricia Ferguson for a change in the law that would force factors to be more responsible to the residents who employ them.
Ms Ferguson's Bill, which is out for public consultation, also demands regulation of factors - with a tough watchdog to enforce rules - and an independent mediation service for disputes.
Today we look at factors who say they do everything by the book - but leave the residents they represent angry and confused.
Examples include residents being charged:
- £44 to change a lightbulb they could buy for £1
- £182 to fix a lighting timer
- £864 a year to have a 6m x 6m patch of grass cut
- £80 to replace a screw in a broken latch
Today we illustrate how a confusing system puts residents of even the most expensive properties at loggerheads with their factors.
Many owners feel their factor is not seeking value for money from contractors.
One group of residents at a riverside development were quoted £120,000 to repaint balconies, with the factor seeking a further £5000 to "oversee the work".
Residents demanded new quotes and are now hoping to have the job done for £60,000.
But it is not just those who live in flats who suffer.
Surprisingly, many people living in family homes also have a factor, especially on new developments.
And there can be huge problems if anyone finds themselves in dispute with the factor.
Instead of a clear, fair complaints procedure, they are often faced with a stony silence or, in some cases, massive penalty charges, court action, threats of bankruptcy and even the loss of their homes.
Unlicensed... but with licence to print money'HISTORICALLY, property managers in Glasgow are called factors. They are employed by homeowners - mostly those living in flats - to look after communal areas such as stairs, backcourts and greenspaces and carry out repairs and maintenance. Almost three-quarters of all Glaswegians live in a flat, and almost half of these are owner-occupiers. We estimate more than 100,000 properties in the city have a factor but we can't be sure - and neither can anyone else. Unlike landlords, factors are unlicensed and don't have to register with anyone. This loophole means there are no figures on the number of factors operating in Glasgow and bad factors can't be "struck off". Anyone can set up as a factor and there's no watchdog to crack down on rogue practices. In other words, the factoring business is a lucrative free-for-all, described by Mike Dailly, from Govan Law Centre, as "a licence to print money". In addition, factors don't have any legally-binding obligations to their customers. Up to 120 factors operate in Glasgow, including social housing associations such as Glasgow Housing Association, which manage ex-council houses. Almost all homeowners who live in flats and many who live in new housing developments are legally bound to look after common areas - this is written into their title deeds. The Property Managers Association of Scotland represents 40 factors in Scotland and has a code of conduct - but membership is voluntary. Only 24 Glasgow factors are members. |
Many people feel they have nowhere to turn when the relationship turns sour.
We will be highlighting the lengths some factors go to chase debts.
And we will be telling you how to sack your factor.
Mike Dailly is a solicitor who defends homeowners and also campaigns against rogue factors in the city.
Mr Dailly, who works at Govan Law Centre, says a change in the law is vital if residents are ever to get a fair deal.
He said: "I fully back the Evening Times' campaign and congratulate the paper for tackling this issue.
"Factors have a licence to print money. We need a major change so they are obliged to treat homeowners as proper customers, as opposed to debtors to be exploited, ripped off and ignored.
"This respect and common decency will only happen if this industry is properly regulated.
At the moment it's a free-for-all.
"People need to be able to identify the good factors from the bad. This is not easy and the public needs protection.
"Govan Law Centre is helping Ms Ferguson draft the Bill to tackle these problems and I would ask Evening Times' readers to support this."
Ms Ferguson, MSP for Maryhill, said: "The Evening Times' campaign is vital because my experience suggests many people suffer in silence the problems arising from their relationship with their factor. They do not realise there are others with similar problems.
"Many people pay up when they get excessive bills or bad service and it is important they know they do not have to.
"I believe all firms managing property must be registered and should meet basic standards everyone understands.
"Failure to do so would mean the company would no longer be registered.
"I also think there should be an accessible form of mediation that allows people to have independent adjudication of an issue without having to go to court."
Attempts to give residents a better deal have also won support from some city factors.
Stephen O'Neill manages 3000 properties in Glasgow through his company Newton Property. He said: "I support any initiative that will root out the rogue factors who give the entire industry a bad name.
"I strongly support regulation. Those of us who run reputable companies have nothing to fear from this.
"Currently, factors have no legal obligations to customers.
"However, the most important responsibility of a factor is to maintain the trust of his or her clients. With a firm bond of trust, most problems are surmountable."
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