Scottish housing charity LAR has made two key appointments to its board.

Alister Steele and Rani Dhir have been appointed as independent trustees for a four-year term and both bring a wealth of sector experience with them.

LAR chairman Andrew Robertson said: “I am delighted to welcome them onto the board and both Alister and Rani have extensive housing and other relevant experience at a very senior level. They will help shape the future strategic direction of LAR as we grow over the coming years, helping to tackle a shortage of quality affordable homes across Scotland.”

Alister Steele has over 30 years experience in delivering affordable housing and community regeneration solutions. He has just retired as managing director of Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association, part of the UK-wide Places for People Group and among his various non-exec roles he is currently chair of energy supply business, Our Power Community Benefit Society and trustee of Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh. He was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to social housing and regeneration in Edinburgh.

Rani Dhir has a portfolio of non-exec roles including the Scottish Legal Aid Board, NHS Health Scotland, Erskine Hospital and the Housing Associations Property Mutual. She was a member of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution, a member of the Scottish Government’s Cities Review Group and was identified by a national newspaper as one of Scotland’s top one hundred most influential businesswomen. She was awarded an MBE in 2001 in recognition of her contribution to Scottish Homes.

Robertson added: “We were overwhelmed with quality applications for the two board vacancies and Alister and Rani were the outstanding candidates. I look forward to working with them going forward.”

LAR, which is based in Dunfermline, launched in October 2015 with the aim of providing approximately 1,000 properties at mid-market rents across Scotland over the next five years. It aims to help an increasing number of tenants across Scotland who neither qualify for social housing nor can afford rents in the private sector.

To date it has properties at 12 sites across Scotland with over 100 homes occupied and a further 200 under construction.