Opinion

Kathie Pollard Scottish Land Commission policy officer, Kathie Pollard, looks at Compulsory Sale Orders.

An article painting a bleak picture of housing associations in Scotland appeared recently in Bella Caledonia and was republished on the Scottish Community Alliance website. This picture, however, is at odds with the experience of many tenants and communities across Scotland, writes the Scottish Fede

An article painting a bleak picture of housing associations in Scotland appeared recently in Bella Caledonia and was republished on the Scottish Community Alliance website. Here the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations offers a defence of local community-controlled housing asso

Professor Chris Leishman reflects on whether last week’s government u-turn on housing benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds signals a return of evidence based housing policy. There is a well established connection between individuals’ experience of homelessness – particularly rough sleeping – and m

Housing minister Kevin Stewart Housing minister Kevin Stewart outlines plans to make fire & smoke alarm regulations safer for all homes in Scotland.

Robin Mitchell As the third anniversary (April) of the introduction of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) approaches, Robin Mitchell offers a timely reminder of tenants’ responsibilities.

Lynsey Reid outlines the “agent of change” principle in planning policy. On 16 February 2018 researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Newcastle and Turku in Finland published the UK’s first live music venue census. The survey found that 29% of small music venues (defined as those with l

Dr Sally Reynolds Scottish Land Commissioner, Dr Sally Reynolds, looks at scale and concentration of land ownership in Scotland.

Helen Murdoch After the launch of an initiative which aims to give a new voice for Scotland’s ethnic minority older people, Hanover Scotland chief executive, Helen Murdoch, give her views on the Scottish Ethnic Minority Older People Forum.

Prof Sarah Johnsen reflects on the question of why Housing First seems to be so much more effective than mainstream provision for the majority of homeless people with multiple and complex needs. I was genuinely delighted to receive an invitation to speak about ‘why Housing First works’ at Homele

Jimmy Black, former Housing Convener at Dundee City Council, has been campaigning to stop the demolition of historic tenements in Blackness Road. Previously he wrote that a consultation exercise had been misreported to councillors. Now he says Freedom of Information has thrown up new contradictions.

Jon Sparkes Jon Sparkes on the latest news from the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, transforming temporary accommodation and gathering the views of hundreds of people with experience of homelessness.

Frank Jarvis Frank Jarvis summarises some recent cases where the Equality Act was deployed against letting agents discriminating against prospective tenants.

Professor David Adams Scottish Land Commissioner Professor David Adams looks at public interest led development in Scotland.

By Shaheena Din, national project manager for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership