A particularly Scottish industry, factors usually organise repairs, maintenance and improvements of roofs, staircases, entrances and gardens, and the administration of common buildings insurance.

A particularly Scottish industry, factors usually organise repairs, maintenance and improvements of roofs, staircases, entrances and gardens, and the administration of common buildings insurance.

Most of their work is related to tenements and other collective residential properties.

Factors can be private businesses, a registered social landlord or a local authority. More than one-third of all homes in Scotland are in shared buildings such as multi-storey flats, "four in a block" homes or tenements.

One leading firm in the sector, Peveral, is calling for a "transparent and robust" code of practice to define the roles and responsibilities of property managers. It has been working with the Scottish Government and welfare groups on such a code.

Keith Murray, its Scottish director, said: "It's no surprise to learn that the OFT has found that property owners are dissatisfied with some Scottish property management companies."

The investigation coincides with a bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Patricia Ferguson, Glasgow Maryhill MSP. It would require property management companies to be registered and would include a dispute resolution system to avoid expensive court cases.

Ms Ferguson, who is due to meet the OFT in Glasgow before the the final report's publication, said: "I'm pleased they've undertaken all this work, which bears out my own consultation, and I'm hopeful they'll make recommendations that will be helpful."