Tenement dwellings - provision of Building Reserve Funds: report

Appendix 1: Research Question Viability and Methods

Reference

1

Research Question within ITT

Number of tenements that currently have and do not have BRF arrangements

Viable within scope of contract

Anecdotal evidence from professionals indicates BRF rare in Scotland

Unlikely to establish exact proportions

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Literature review

Public survey

Reference

2

Research Question within ITT

Reasons some tenements have no provision or security in place to ensure the safety of buildings and regular maintenance

Viable within scope of contract

Yes

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Literature review

Stakeholder Interviews

Focus Groups

Reference

3

Research Question within ITT

If there is a legal requirement to pay into a BRF

Viable within scope of contract

No- we recommend this is directly advised by Scottish Law Commission to Scottish Government

Otherwise this may require a separate commission with extensive examination of legal documentation from legal levels down to title deeds

Target Group

n/a

Method

n/a

Reference

4

Research Question within ITT

Whether those who own properties in tenements understand what their legal responsibilities are in terms of building fabric

Viable within scope of contract

To an extent- through qualitative techniques.

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Literature review

Focus Groups

Reference

5

Research Question within ITT

Reasons which prevent owners paying into a BRF, including cost, coverage, attitudes, absent landlords

Viable within scope of contract

Yes- in general terms

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Literature review

Focus Groups

Reference

6

Research Question within ITT

Where there is a BRF, how are the monthly/ yearly amounts are calculated

Viable within scope of contract

Might be able to gather a few examples once specific BRFs are identified

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Stakeholder interviews

Focus Groups

Reference

7

Research Question within ITT

Whether owners who currently pay into a BRF had it been explained to them how their contribution has been calculated, i.e. a % of the property value.

Viable within scope of contract

Might be able to gather a few examples once specific BRFs are identified

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Stakeholder interviews

Focus Groups

Reference

8

Research Question within ITT

Where BRFs in place, investigate occasions where maintenance or major construction work has been required, how the work was undertaken and whether through legal enforcement

Viable within scope of contract

Might be able to gather a few examples once specific BRFs are identified

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Stakeholder interviews

Focus Groups

Reference

9

Research Question within ITT

Investigate whether factoring fees include contributions to BRF

Viable within scope of contract

Might be able to gather a few examples once specific BRFs are identified

Target Group

Factors

Method

Stakeholder interviews

Reference

10

Research Question within ITT

Capture the concerns of those already contributing to a BRF about potential scenarios

Viable within scope of contract

Might be able to gather a few examples once specific BRFs are identified

Target Group

Tenement owners

Method

Focus Groups

Reference

11

Research Question within ITT

Research how BRF can be applied to Tenements

Viable within scope of contract

Yes- general research question

Target Group

n/a

Method

Literature review

Reference

12

Research Question within ITT

Look at systems being used in other countries

Viable within scope of contract

Yes

Target Group

n/a

Method

Literature review

Stakeholder interviews

Reference

13

Research Question within ITT

In other countries, understand levels of cooperation between owners and bodies responsible for building maintenance

Viable within scope of contract

Yes

Target Group

Stakeholders

Method

Interviews with key figures in other countries

Reference

14

Research Question within ITT

Assess the impacts of factors on maintenance and repair costs to age of building, number of units, presence of communal facilities and building type (as per Ministerial Working Group report).

Viable within scope of contract

Yes

Target Group

Stakeholders

Method

Literature review

Stakeholder interviews

Reference

15

Research Question within ITT

Assess the impact of any other factors on maintenance and repair

Viable within scope of contract

Yes

Target Group

Stakeholders

Method

Literature review

Stakeholder interviews

Reference

16

Research Question within ITT

Calculate the relative weight of factors on maintenance and repair costs

Viable within scope of contract

Yes

Target Group

Stakeholders

Method

Stakeholder interviews

Reference

17

Research Question within ITT

Investigate how BRFs should be managed using a proposed points system

Viable within scope of contract

Can include recommendations

Target Group

Stakeholders

Method

Literature review

Stakeholder interviews

Reference

18

Research Question within ITT

Identify what the initial minimum contribution should be and how this should be rated across the points system

Viable within scope of contract

Can include recommendations

Target Group

Stakeholders

Method

Literature review

Stakeholder interviews