Opinion

I imagine your readers will be aware of my concerns about the conflation of the terms ‘affordable’ and ‘social’ when used to describe housing. Transparency and accuracy in the use of words are essential if we hope to monitor and hold to account developers (including RSLs) and

David Kidd is an improvement lead with Homeless Network Scotland and a member of the Glasgow Alliance to End Homelessness’ management team. Here he provides an update on the work being prioritised to ensure that people with diverse and direct experiences of homelessness have an equal decision

David Bookbinder considers the financial implications a proposed freeze or cap on social housing rents would have for a housing association's Net Zero aspirations. As always after populist announcements, it’s good to get real about the implications. A single year’s rent freeze next April

Stephen Llewellyn grew up in a multi. He felt warm, safe and is happy to say that he had a great childhood there. Yet he is leading the demolition of 48 high rise blocks in North Lanarkshire. Stephen acknowledges the contradiction. Speaking on the Scottish Housing News podcast, he spoke with some pr

Mark Cairney, Glasgow Homelessness Involvement & Feedback Team (GHIFT) member and the latest addition to the Leadership Team of the Glasgow Alliance to End Homelessness, reflects on the opportunity and creativity in the organisation's Frontline Forum. WHEN – Seeing the Workforce as People

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, Ian Heron - residential specification manager, Renewable Heating at Mitsubishi Electric - writes about the need for an urgent change in the way we heat our buildings. In June 2019, the UK became the first ma

Housing lawyer Derek Hogg discusses Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters and their impact on social housing. Scottish housing associations can hardly have failed to notice the increasing level of debate within the sector in recent times around the themes of sustainability and ESG

The energy crisis will only worsen unless we offer a balanced smart transition where consumers decide their own energy future, says John Forster from the Forster Group. Energy prices skyrocketing, rising inflation rates and a potential year-long recession, the immediate economic picture for the UK l

Hanover Scotland has plans to develop new homes and upgrade its existing stock but, in this challenging financial climate, Angela Currie says more support will be required to help the goal be achieved. Like many organisations, Hanover Scotland has recently launched a new strategy that sets out

Letting agent Riccardo Giovanacci argues that Scotland needs to attract more landlords into the private rented sector, rather than continuing to drive them away. In an ideal world, home ownership would be the accepted way for everyone to live, with people enjoying the security, warmth, shelter

Steph Elliot from the SFHA returns with the monthly TECH column with a focus on work going on, in and around the TECH community. This month, she highlights a grant-funded Test of Change opportunity that relates to fire safety. From February this year, every home in Scotland is now required to h

Andrew Diamond, partner and head of residential property at Lindsays, reveals how ‘subject to purchase’ bids hold potential for unlocking opportunities to bring more homes on to market as well as greater buying power. Contract clauses which make home sales subject to the seller buying th

Craig McClaren talks about the Royal Town Planning Institute's project to build on the strength of the nations and regions so it can better meet its members' needs. The RTPI’s nations and regions are an incredibly important part of the Institute that work within and across a diverse range of c

DM Hall property expert Calum Allmond believes it's time for a fresh look at the many ways an Energy Performance Certificate can be beneficial to property owners. In the same way that Home Reports have become an accepted part of the residential property market so have Energy Performance Certificates

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, Caitriona Jordan, head of retrofit programmes at Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), looks at the skills needed in the construction industry to support decarbonisation. Decarbonisation