TPI Scotland: A Vision for Safer, Better-Managed Homes
Scotland’s housing stock is at a critical turning point. With a significant proportion of shared homes now requiring urgent or essential repairs, the need for long term, practical solutions have never been clearer. The TPI Scotland Manifesto sets out a clear and compelling vision for improving the safety, sustainability and management of Scotland’s homes, placing homeowners and residents firmly at the centre of decision making.
Published by The Property Institute (TPI), the manifesto outlines a call to action ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, focusing on the challenges facing flatted and shared ownership buildings. These are homes where responsibility is often fragmented, maintenance is delayed and costs escalate unnecessarily which are issues the manifesto seeks to address through collaboration, professionalism and reform.
At the heart of the manifesto are three core ambitions: raising standards, improving safety and ensuring sustainability. Together, these pillars recognise that effective property management plays a vital role in protecting residents, safeguarding buildings and supporting the long-term future of Scotland’s housing.
The Foreword to the manifesto is written by David Doran, our Group CEO and Company Managing Director, who reinforces the importance of putting homeowners first, while maintaining the highest professional standards across the sector. As David states in the manifesto, “The principles of TPI Scotland are clear: homeowners must come first, with professional integrity at the forefront of everything we do.” This commitment underpins the manifesto’s proposals and reflects TPI Scotland’s focus on accountability, transparency and trust.
Safety is also a central theme, particularly in relation to long standing building defects. Addressing the ongoing cladding crisis is identified as a priority, with David highlighting the urgent need for progress: “The cladding crisis must be resolved at a faster pace to ensure safer buildings for residents, and compulsory communal building insurance is essential to protect homeowners from further costs.” These measures are positioned as essential steps toward restoring confidence and protecting residents from avoidable financial and safety risks.
Beyond immediate concerns, the manifesto makes the case for structural reforms such as mandatory owners’ associations, regular building inspections and long-term reserve funds. These proposals aim to shift Scotland’s housing system away from reactive maintenance toward planned, preventative care, ensuring buildings remain safe, resilient and fit for the future.
Supporting the manifesto’s development, Gordon Buchanan, Director at Hacking & Paterson Management Services and a TPI Scotland Board Member, chairs the Governance and Policy Working Group. His team played a crucial role in reviewing and approving the manifesto in Scotland, providing insight on both content and structure, and helping develop the communications strategy for its launch. Gordon emphasises that while the manifesto represents a major milestone, “now the work begins to put it into practice to improve Scotland’s homes and communities”.
The manifesto is more than a policy document. It is a roadmap for safer buildings, empowered homeowners and a more sustainable housing system, grounded in professional expertise and a commitment to meaningful change.
