Blocktalk - the podcast for UK Property Management Professionals

Podcast by Blocktalk UK

Blocktalk - the podcast for UK Property Management Professionals

Blocktalk explores the real stories, challenges, and change shaping the UK block management and factoring industries. Each episode brings together business leaders, policymakers, experts, and industry stakeholders for honest conversations about the issues that matter most — from reform and transparency to technology and customer experience. Hosted by Brian Welsh, CEO of CPL Software, the company powering Proptimo, Blocktalk offers thought-provoking insight drawn from over 30 years of experience in property management, technology, and leadership. Brian is also a certified Clifton Strengths Coach and passionate about driving efficiency, communication, and long-term value in business.

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Latest episodes

16 December 2025

Neil Watt Puts Brian Welsh in the Hot Seat: A Candid, No-Limits Conversation

In this special episode of Blocktalk, the tables are turned.

Guest host Neil Watt, Chairman of Hacking & Paterson and a highly respected voice in UK property factoring and block management, takes over the interviewer’s chair to put Brian Welsh, Managing Director of CPL Software and host of Blocktalk, firmly in the hot seat.

Neil leads a candid, wide-ranging conversation shaped by questions submitted by clients and listeners. Together, they explore Brian’s journey into the sector, leadership and business philosophy, the realities facing property managers today, and what lies ahead for the industry across Scotland, England and Wales.

The discussion spans:

Property factoring and block management across the UK
Transparency, trust, and industry perception
The growing role of AI and technology
Business culture, leadership, and work-life balance
Regulation, reform, and future challenges

Insightful, honest, and occasionally light-hearted, this episode offers a rare chance to hear Brian Welsh reflect openly on the industry he’s helped shape, guided by someone who knows it inside out.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube

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01:59:53

16 December 2025

Factoring Arrangements & Title Deeds: A Candid Conversation

Deeds of Conditions shape how shared buildings are managed, but they’re often confusing, inconsistent and misunderstood. In this episode, Brian Welsh sits down with:

• Mike Guthrie, Partner at Burness Paull LLP

• Jaqueline Borthwick, Managing Director at The Property Factor Professional

They unpack the realities behind title deeds, from how they’re drafted at site setup to how they’re lived with decades later. Expect honest commentary on:

• Why older deeds are so challenging

• The Development Management Scheme and modern drafting trends

• When deeds become unmanageable for factors

• How sales questionnaires fail to tell the full story

• What homeowners think their deed says vs. what it actually says

• Enforcement, the Property Factors Act, and gaps in regulation

• The balance between transparency, practicality and cost

Whether you're a homeowner, developer, factor or solicitor, this conversation sheds light on a part of property ownership that affects almost everyone, yet is rarely talked about clearly.

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01:38:18

10 December 2025

Transparency in Property Factoring Ep 2: Who Pays? Fabric, Factoring & the Future of Tenements

In this second special episode of Blocktalk, Brian Welsh is joined by Paul Sweeney MSP and David Doran (Vice Chair, TPI Scotland) for a wide-ranging and urgent discussion on transparency, trust, and the future of Scotland’s tenements.

Prompted by recent coverage in The Times, the conversation explores the complex questions facing homeowners, factors, and government, including who’s responsible for repairs, how costs are shared, and what meaningful reform could look like.

Topics include:

Inherited debt and conveyancing gaps
Sinking funds, five-year inspections, and financing long-term maintenance
Misaligned incentives, reactive repairs, and public confidence
The case for better transparency, regulation, and cross-sector collaboration

Whether you’re a homeowner, policymaker, or property professional, this episode offers valuable insight into one of Scotland’s most pressing housing challenges.

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01:24:59

10 November 2025

Transparency in Property Factoring Ep 1: Debt, Trust & Reform with Derek MacDonald & Mark Griffin MSP

In the first episode of our special Transparency in Property Factoring series, host Brian Welsh is joined by Derek MacDonald (Newton Property Management) and Mark Griffin MSP (Shadow Housing Minister) to unpack some of the most pressing issues facing Scotland’s factoring landscape today.

From inherited debt and tribunal complexity to public trust and proposed legislative reform, this conversation dives deep into the real tensions between homeowners, property factors, and government, and explores what meaningful change might look like.

We discuss:

Why homeowners are receiving unexpected bills for historic debt
Whether the First-tier Tribunal is accessible or broken
The challenges around switching factors and rebuilding trust
Proposed reforms to the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011
The role of not-for-profit models and public perception
What transparency really means in today’s factoring market

🎧 Note: There were some technical issues with audio on the day. We’ve done our best to balance the sound, but the insight is well worth your time.

Watch on our YouTube Channel.

Like, comment, and subscribe!

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01:30:28

07 October 2025

TPI x PMAS: What the Merger Means for Property Managers | Blocktalk Podcast | w/ Brian Welsh

What does the merger between PMAS and The Property Institute mean for factoring in Scotland, and for property management across the UK?

In this special episode of Blocktalk, host Brian Welsh is joined by Andrew Bulmer, Chief Executive of The Property Institute, and Neale Bisset, Chair of TPI Scotland and co-owner of PMC Property Management. Together, they explore why the merger happened, what it means for professional standards, and how the sector can build greater trust with homeowners.

They discuss:

The path to uniting PMAS and TPI
What Scotland brings to the UK-wide conversation
The urgent need for qualifications, transparency, and long-term thinking
How TPI Scotland will support the factoring sector going forward

👉 A must-listen for property managers, developers, and anyone invested in the future of housing in Scotland and beyond.

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54:22

02 September 2025

Talking Factoring & Property Management with Jacqueline Borthwick - The Property Factor Professional

Brian Welsh is joined by Jacqueline Borthwick, founder of The Property Factor Professional, to discuss the realities of factoring in Scotland, the changes shaping the sector, and what’s needed for sustainable business growth. Jacqueline also shares her career journey, her experience with CPL Software, and her thoughts on the rebrand to Proptimo.

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29:16