Property problem: advice/recommendations needed please!

[Edinburghlassie1]

Name change for security reasons.
Legal advice (Edinburgh property) and recommendations for a good Edinburgh property lawyer needed please!
We are looking for some advice with a difficult property situation.
House with four flats: three owner occupiers, one owned by an opaque overseas entity and ’managed’ by someone overseas who won’t respond to us. The tenant doesn’t engage with us either. Neither owner nor ‘manager’ are registered with Edinburgh Council.
The building has communal insurance but the tenanted flat hasn’t paid their share. We can’t get any response from the owner (we have no means of communicating with them), the ‘manager’, or the tenant.
We have approached some solicitors who say they don’t deal with properties owned by overseas owners.
Please can someone help us with advice or a recommendation?

Have you tried the Under one Roof website ? Under One Roof – Impartial information on repairs and maintenance for home owners in Scotland

I know from our factor that there is legal provision to pursue owners who dont pay their share of communal repairs but I suppose your challenge is finding a solicitor who will take this on. Sorry cant be of more help.

Thanks for replying - I appreciate it! Yes, I'm asking Under One Roof, but it's tricky with the owner and 'manager' both being abroad and not registered in Scotland. I've got a few leads to follow up, but thought it was worth seeing if anyone else had any experience or advice. Thanks again!

If the property is let then the landlord should be registered and that can be checked Landlord register home - Scottish Landlord Register (landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk) - I used this when trying to track down contact details for owners in my block. If the property is let and the landlord isnt registered that's a criminal offence. Good luck

Thanks - I'm weighing up my options - it's going to be a major headache that's for sure!

Speak to a solicitor to register a potential liability for costs against the title for the property. The owner won't be able to sell the property without paying up. Doesn't solve the initial problem but they will have to pay.

Look at the Register of Overseas Entities ( UK wide) and the new Scottish register of controlled interests in land. Both of these - the Scottish one in particular - should disclose the person who owns / controls decision making in relation to the property. If nothing is disclosed write to the registrar as they may be committing a criminal offence and ten registrar will enquire.

Thanks for all the advice - I'll follow it up!