What is The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland?

The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) was formed to provide relatively informal and flexible proceedings to help resolve issues that arise between homeowners and property factors. The Tribunal was originally called the Homeowner Housing Panel (hohp) and was formed as a result of the Property Factor’s (Scotland) 2011.

The functions of both the prhp (Private Rented Housing Panel) and the hohp were transferred to The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) on 1 December 2016 as part of the changes introduced by the Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014.

The purpose of the Tribunal is to determine applications from homeowners in relation to disputes between them and their property factor in relation to the property factors’ statutory duties and compliance with the Property Factors’ Code of Conduct.

What powers does The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland have?

The Tribunal has the power to issue a PFEO (Property Factor Enforcement Order)

This order can require a Property Factor to do various things: refund charges, redo repairs at no additional charge, issue apologies for inefficiencies and pay compensation for inconvenience.

Preparation prior to attending The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland?

It is very important to be well prepared if you are required to attend a Tribunal. It would of course have been better to avoid being there in the 1st place, but that isn’t always possible.

The Tribunal expects attendance to be taken seriously, and will presume the presence of suitably senior staff or managers, who would be able to make decisions without consultation.

Who requires to be trained in the workings of The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland?

It is essential training for any member of staff who would deal with escalating factoring complaints and who would represent their organisation at a hearing. Members of staff who deal with factoring on a day to day basis would also benefit from this training.

Why would you choose McCallum Training to train your staff about The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland?

Eileen McCallum has been running courses on the workings of the Homeownership Housing Panel ( now The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland) since its inception, and has had among her delegates members of the Homeownership Housing Panel. The training includes in-depth scrutiny of real cases and their outcomes.