Opinion

Kelly Fraser provides advice for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) wondering how to deal with governance issues, including the requirements to convene meetings, during the current coronavirus pandemic. There are various potential options in the prevailing circumstances - including virtual meetings,

Given the current working conditions at housing associations across Scotland, Penny Norton reveals how online consultation can replace meetings usually carried out in person. This time two weeks ago a housing association might have been running or contributing to a consultation event for a proposed

Homeless Network Scotland is partnering with Scottish Housing News to collect and share the experiences and challenges faced by its members, the wider homelessness sector and people confronted directly with homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. In response to the emergency, Homeless Network Scotl

Craig Edward offers an alternative view to Grant Ager’s call for Scotland’s social landlords to consider a three-month rent holiday. I have to say I disagree with Grant. Tenants have varying circumstances and different methods of payment of rent. It is far too simplistic to suggest that

All organisations across the world are facing challenges as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Kelly Fraser says many Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) will be concerned about what this means for their day-to-day operations. While data protection is often a term that we want to avo

Well-known housing figure Grant Ager argues that Scotland’s social landlords should consider a three-month rent holiday. These are unprecedented times and as such need unprecedented actions.

Ypeople CEO Janet Haugh gives an update on the charity’s continuing work. The world is currently facing a pandemic, the scale of which has not been seen in our lifetime. COVID-19 is causing us to adapt and rapidly change not only our services, but our lives and the lives of our families and co

Property law can seem boring and unimportant to some people at times. In the face of a crisis, property law often seems decidedly unimportant. People need to live somewhere, though, and opportunistic and/or thoughtless landlords might use a situation of crisis (or be completely or wilfully oblivious

The weeks ahead will be the most challenging we have ever faced. Social housing professionals have a critical role to play in providing advice and support to thousands of worried and frightened tenants, some of them in sheltered housing and others in supported living units or care homes. Others

SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas has written the following message outlining the organisation’s latest coronavirus response plan. Since last week, developments regarding the coronavirus outbreak have escalated significantly. There is no question that these are challenging and unprecedented ti

The Scottish Government’s Planning and Architecture Division explains its decision to extend the National Planning Framework 4 Call for Ideas deadline until 30 April.

Simon Allison looks at common issues for employers during the coronavirus outbreak such as whether an employer can lay off staff and what happens if they are forced to close their premises. Lay-off/short time working clauseIn the unlikely event that your employees have a “lay off” or sho

Ahead of tomorrow’s expected ministerial statement on the Scottish Government’s eviction measures, Shelter Scotland director Graeme Brown outlines immediate actions required to assist rough sleepers and help prevent further homelessness. The ongoing coronavirus emergency will have d

Housing minister Kevin Stewart details his meeting with public health minister Joe FitzPatrick to discuss COVID-19 and how it will impact those who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Last week I was joined by public health minister Joe FitzPatrick at a meeting of the Homeless

After reading articles from Martin Armstrong and David Bookbinder about the relative merits of large and small housing associations, Mark McLintock from MainStreet Consulting carried out some analysis and details his findings. MainStreet has worked with some big housing associations and some sm