AboveBoard

16/10/2026

If you live in a flat, the Bonnington Bond story is worth your attention, even if your building looks nothing like it.

Residents there have been advised to move out while fire safety work is designed. The developer is doing the right thing: acting on expert advice and paying for temporary accommodation. But it still means families leaving their homes for months.

Here’s the bit that matters for everyone else. Most blocks rely on a “stay put” policy: if there’s a fire in another flat, you stay in yours with the door shut. That only works if the building actually performs the way it was designed to. And in our experience, the paperwork and the building don’t always agree.

You’re entitled to ask whoever manages your building four simple questions: who holds the current fire risk assessment, what’s still outstanding on it, who’s responsible for each item, and when it’s getting done.

If the answer is vague reassurance, keep asking. It’s your home.

We’ve written up the full piece on the blog, link below.

Who is responsible for fire safety in a Scottish block of flats? Interlinked alarms, fire doors, common stairs, stay put policy and the duty holder, explained.

05/10/2026

Your building's lift is probably its most expensive single item. It's also the one nobody plans for.

Lifts are quiet for years. Servicing, a statutory inspection every six months, the odd callout. Then they pass about 20 years old and the pattern flips: parts stop being made, breakdowns get more frequent, and the conversation turns to refurbish or replace. Refurbishment runs to tens of thousands. A full replacement in a residential block is commonly six figures once building work and compliance upgrades are included.

How that cost is shared is written in your title deeds. Most Edinburgh developments split it across every owner; some exclude ground floor flats. Where the deed says nothing, the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 sets the default.

Five signs the lift in your block is being looked after properly:

The maintenance contract is reviewed and matched to the lift's age, not just renewed.
Inspection reports are read and the defects are actually fixed, with evidence.
Repeat callouts are investigated, not just paid.
Owners are told the lift's age, condition and likely replacement date well before it fails.
A sinking fund is building towards it.

Question for anyone in a block with a lift: do you know how old it is, and whether any money is set aside for it?

Full guide in the first comment. If your lift is ageing and nobody has mentioned a plan, get in touch. Pre appointment advice is free.

First comment: Here's the guide, written by Sarah: https://www.aboveboard.homes/post/lifts-in-shared-buildings-costs

25/09/2026

Float or sinking fund? They sound similar, they sit near each other on your statement, and they do completely different jobs.

One is working money that comes back to you when you sell. The other is savings that stays with the building.

Most people find out which is which at exactly the wrong moment: when they're selling up.

Our new guide explains both, plus the five questions worth putting to your factor.

What is the difference between a float and a sinking fund? How Scottish factored developments hold money, what happens when you sell, and what to ask your factor.

16/09/2026

Rain finds the gap. Every time.

Follow one blocked gutter through three winters:

Year one → overflow. The wall stays wet longer than it dries. Fix: a cleaning visit.

Year two → mortar goes, frost gets in, damp appears in the top flat. Fix: repointing and redecoration.

Year three → the wet has reached the lintels and the joist ends nobody can see. Fix: rot treatment, structural work, scaffolding. Many times the price of any cleaning visit the building ever skipped.

Nothing about that story is bad luck. It's the normal physics of putting things off. Buildings keep their own accounts, and they charge interest.

Our new piece walks through the four ways delay actually costs more, why shared blocks are so prone to waiting (the cost is visible, the saving isn't), and how stuck buildings get moving again.

Putting off communal repairs rarely saves money. How small building faults escalate, why decisions stall in shared blocks, and how owners can break the cycle.

04/09/2026

Been a little while since we’ve had access to this account… and it’s fair to say it could do with a bit of an autumn trim and spruce-up! 🍂✂️

Bear with us while we tidy things up, refresh a few bits and get everything looking a little more loved again.

We’ll be back to posting properly very soon. 😊

16/04/2024

🌟 Welcome to AboveBoard Homes - Property Management Redefined! 🌟

🏢 We're not just any property factor; we're your proactive partner in property management. At AboveBoard Homes, we elevate the standard of property care with a comprehensive suite of services tailored for shared spaces and community living in Edinburgh.

Our woman-led team is revolutionizing property management with fresh perspectives and robust financial strategies.

🔧 Core Services Include:

• Maintenance of shared spaces and common areas.
• Management of repairs, renovations, and major projects.
• Coordination of ongoing service contracts and cyclical works.
• Financial management - invoicing, collection, payments.
• Ensuring compliance with all local building codes and regulations.
• Resolving disputes and managing communications effectively between all parties.

💡 What Sets Us Apart?

• A small, agile, and disruptive approach ensuring continuous improvement.
• Strong local focus, collaborating closely with stakeholders to empower decision-making and foster community.
• Full transparency in all dealings coupled with cutting-edge technological solutions.

🌍 Driven by a Community Focus, we're not just about managing properties, but also nurturing environments where people feel truly at home.

💬 Many manage properties. Only one does it AboveBoard.

Follow us to see property management done right!

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08/02/2023

As a tenant, managing your rental property can sometimes be a hassle, particularly when it comes to issues in the communal areas.

Having access to the property factors' online portal offers a number of benefits for tenants.

One benefit of an online portal is the ability to easily report maintenance issues in the communal areas.

No more waiting on the phone for someone to answer or leaving messages that never get returned.

You can simply log into your portal and report the issue, and it will be immediately sent to the property factor for resolution.

Another great aspect of having access to the online portal is it can help you stay informed about the property and the community you live in. The portal can be used to receive important announcements, updates on the property, and information about local events and activities.

As customers of AboveBoard Homes, landlords have the ability to add their tenants onto their building portal.

This way it not only helps tenants get issues resolved swiftly, it helps them feel part of the community they live in.

07/02/2023

As we continue our series of different perspectives, here is the perspective of a tenant:

As a tenant, I'm always looking for a well-maintained living environment. That's why I'm hoping my landlord will switch to a new property factor in Scotland. I've heard that they're more responsive to tenant needs and offer a higher level of customer service. I'm tired of feeling like my requests and concerns are being ignored, and I'm hopeful that this new company will be more attentive to my needs.

31/01/2023

As we continue our series of perspectives of different homeowners regarding their property factor, here's the view of a landlord:

"As a landlord, I'm always looking for ways to streamline the management of my rental properties. That's why I'm considering using a new property factor in Scotland. I've heard that they're more efficient and offer a more comprehensive range of services. I'm tired of dealing with multiple contractors and vendors, and I'm hopeful that this new company will be able to handle everything under one roof. Plus, if they can save me money on maintenance costs, that's a bonus"