To date, the website has operated with a voluntary Steering Group managed initially by the RIAS and subsequently by Changeworks, the Edinburgh based environmental charity.

Tony Cain, chair of the current Steering Group, said: “Over the last five years the team at UOR have worked hard to establish our website as the go to source for independent advice on tenement maintenance for owners and residents alike. We have got this far thanks to the professionalism of our staff and the generous support from the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and the private sector.

“Moving the site to a new charity is part of our plan to secure the sites long term independence and its governance as a key resource for owners and professionals alike.”

Since the launch of the website, the issue of the poor condition of Scottish tenements has been brought to the fore by organisations such as RICS and the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance.

Under One Roof will use its funding to provide more outreach work to assist tenement flat owners to understand their rights and responsibilities and to help the organisations who work with these owners to understand the very real difficulties that owners currently face. Under One Roof will also work with other organisations to advocate owners needs to help ensure new laws are both appropriate to dealing with property conditions and welcomed by responsible owners as the Scottish Government develops new legislation.

Kevin Stewart MSP, minister for local government, housing and planning, said: “I am pleased to learn that Under One Roof is now an independent charity and will be able to continue to expand its activities in promoting the need to maintain tenements in Scotland. Under One Roof is an invaluable source of independent expert advice to owners of Scottish tenements, supported by funding from the Scottish Government.”

David Reid, president of PMAS, the trade body for Scottish factors, added: “UOR is a terrific independent resource for both the owners of flatted property, and those who work with them; PMAS is proud of our continued involvement. We are delighted with this move to charitable status, which will help ensure UORs long term presence and influential activity.”

Annie Flint, the co-author and producer of the website, said: “I’m looking forward to taking more of a back seat now we have sufficient funding to be able to seek out and appoint my successor on a full time basis and to provide that person with the assistance they need to expand our efforts in training and resourcing owners and their advisers.”