Opinion

Link housing officer Paula Cherry reflects on a recent litter pick in Edinburgh.

Hazel MacIver, Homeless Network Scotland’s new programme advisor shares her initial impressions of the Fair Way Scotland partnership and sets out how the determination and positivity of its partners, allied to the programme’s evidence-based approach, is achieving tangible results. Fair W

The Scottish Housing Regulator's assistant director (governance and performance) Margaret Sharkey details the latest meeting of the Urban Landlord Group. We had another of our regular meetings with one of the three standing groups of senior people from Registered Social Landlords to discuss imp

Deputy chair Andrew Watson shares his thoughts following the latest meeting of the Scottish Housing Regulator's Rural & Islands Landlord Group. In November we had another of our regular meetings with the standing group which brings together senior leaders from Registered Social Landlords (R

David Bookbinder, director of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, reflects on the housing cuts announced in the Scottish Budget just before Christmas. A harsh headline, perhaps. But after months of high-profile coverage of our housing crisis, a 26% cut to the Affordable H

Callum Chomczuk, the national director for Scotland at the CIH, looks ahead to the next 12 months in housing and calls on sector professionals to prioritise the dual challenges of housing supply and homelessness services. We ended 2023 with a devastating headline for the sector. We all wanted to see

Matthew Aitchison, associate, valuation & advisory at Knight Frank Scotland, highlights the key points from the Scottish Government's proposed Heat in Buildings Bill and shares what steps landlords and occupiers should begin to take to prepare. The Scottish Government has released its

Maggie Brünjes, chief executive of Homeless Network Scotland, on the long-term impacts of short-term decisions on housing and what needs to happen now to make 2024 count. Imagine there was enough decent and affordable housing for everyone in Scotland in the places we want to build and live our

As the affordable homes budget was slashed by more than a quarter, Rosevale Letting managing director Riccardo Giovanacci offers five ways that landlords, governments, agencies and local authorities could work together to ease Scotland's ongoing housing crisis. Just before Scottish ministers slashed

Angela Leitch, member of the Accounts Commission, discusses the Accounts Commission's future reporting on social care. At their best, social care services enable people to not just live the life they choose, but to thrive. The services provided by councils, private and third sector organisations, in

Duncan Smith, head of energy & sustainability at River Clyde Homes, reflects on an information event on the delivery of heat networks and asks how projects can be scaled up to a city-wide level. Some colleagues from River Clyde Homes and I attended this week's Heat Networks Delivery session

In light of the recent housing emergency declared by the City of Edinburgh Council, Springfield Group CEO Innes Smith argues that collaborative working between the public and private sectors must result in review, action and crucially, an increase in positive planning decisions, to truly make a

Kevin Reid looks at why supporting communities is more than a choice for The Cruden Group. With the season of goodwill in full swing, it’s a poignant time to reflect on how important it is for businesses to embed social value at the heart of everything they do. This has certainly become a

Gavin Smith, chair of the CIH Scotland Board and service manager at Fife Council, reflects on the Autumn Statement and what it means for the private rented sector. On 22 November the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, announced as part of the UK Government’s Autumn Statement that Local

Callum Chomczuk, director of CIH Scotland, underlines the importance of housing for domestic abuse victims and survivors, and highlights the current 16 days of activism campaign about gender-based violence. Statistically speaking all of us will likely know someone who has experienced - or is ex