A Clear Vision for the Future of TPI Scotland – David Doran steps into the Chair role

Aligning Change While Retaining Scottish Identity

Over the next three years, David’s vision for TPI Scotland is focused on embedding organisational change in a way that aligns closely with TPI UK policies, while protecting what makes Scotland’s property sector distinct. Scotland’s legislative framework, building stock and ownership models differ significantly from elsewhere in the UK, and TPI Scotland’s strength lies in its highly experienced Scottish practitioners who understand these complexities at a practical, day-to-day level.

Alongside alignment, there is a clear ambition to grow the organisation. This includes increasing membership numbers and broadening participation beyond the traditional discipline of property factoring. By doing so, TPI Scotland aims to enhance its influence, relevance and ability to support a wider range of professionals working across the property landscape.

Putting Homeowners at the Centre of the Conversation

While much public discussion often focuses on the challenges faced by property factors, David is clear that the most pressing issues belong to homeowners across Scotland, particularly those living in multi-occupancy buildings. Many face significant safety, construction and maintenance challenges, including cladding remediation, ageing buildings, and the need to meet modern standards of safety and energy efficiency.

TPI Scotland’s member firms are well positioned to work collaboratively with other key stakeholders such as RICS, the Scottish Government and local authorities to address these challenges directly. However, securing meaningful engagement from homeowners and identifying sustainable financial solutions remain among the greatest obstacles. Ensuring people feel safe, informed and supported in their own homes is fundamental to restoring confidence and driving progress.

Value, Voice and Professional Standards

TPI Scotland offers tangible value to its members through a Board made up of experienced property factoring practitioners who are actively involved in the realities of the sector. This practical insight, combined with TPI’s policy work, constructive relationships with government and a strong programme of professional training and qualifications, underpins continual improvement across the industry.

Members benefit from regular and proactive communication on industry developments, legislative change and regulatory requirements. This ensures professionals remain informed, adaptable and able to deliver consistently high standards of service to homeowners and clients alike.

Responding to Legislative Change

Recent housing legislation brings important implications for both homeowners and property factors. For homeowners, the focus on tenant protections, rent controls and energy performance will primarily affect those who rent out their properties. However, the ability for homeowners in developments less than five years old to change their factoring service provider by a simple majority vote, rather than the previous two-thirds requirement, is a welcome and positive change supported by TPI Scotland.

For property factors, amendments to the ‘fit and proper person’ requirements under the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, along with enhanced powers for Scottish Ministers to request information and inspect premises, represent a continued move towards improved transparency, accountability and professionalism within the sector.

Strengthening Relationships and Collaboration

Looking ahead, David is keen to strengthen TPI Scotland’s messaging and its relationships with homeowners, government and local authorities. Scottish property is at a pivotal moment, facing intersecting challenges such as building disrepair, net zero targets, retrofit demands, insurance pressures, owners’ associations and the introduction of sinking funds.

David believes TPI Scotland can and should act as a unifying voice, bringing all parties together to collaborate on practical solutions. Addressing these challenges effectively will require openness, shared responsibility and a willingness to work together to achieve outcomes that are both realistic and timely.

As Chair of TPI Scotland, David’s ambition is clear: to help shape a positive, practical narrative for building maintenance and preservation in Scotland. By strengthening collaboration, championing professionalism and focusing on people, he hopes to ensure that the story being told has an ending that works for homeowners, practitioners and communities alike.

Andrew Bulmer, Chief Executive of The Property Institute Scotland, welcomed the appointment, highlighting both the significance of the merger and the opportunity it creates for the sector: 

“I am excited by the appointment of David as Chair of The Property Institute Scotland Board. The merger of PMAS and TPI presents the perfect opportunity to create a single body and voice of the individual qualified professionals and the firms and Housing Associations that deliver factoring services across the country. David has a clear sight of how that opportunity can deliver better outcomes for residents, and also for the professionals and businesses that serve them. He brings energy, deep insight and long experience to this role at a pivotal time of great progress, and I believe factoring in Scotland is in safe hands just now.”

David said:

“It is with great pride that I take on the roles of Chair of TPI Scotland and Board member of TPI UK and I am truly honoured that my peers both North and South of the Border have placed their trust in me to lead our professional body in Scotland and to be part of driving and influencing legislation, regulation and policy across the UK.

The Scottish, English and Welsh property industries are at a truly unique moment in time with multiple pieces of property legislation being implemented, and many more being developed which bring all legislative regimes closer together than ever before.  As Chair of The Property Institute Scotland, I hope to bring positive direction to our interactions with all relevant stakeholders and to ensure our professional body continues to be a valued, reasoned and positive voice for all that provide, and all who receive, invaluable service in protecting people’s homes throughout the UK.