Opinion

Dan Cookson For thousands studying at Scottish universities each year, the vital task of safely securing a place to live for the next academic term treads a well-worn path; one that’s about to be an unintended casualty of new legislation that’s current going through the Scottish Parliament, acco

Tony Cain Welcome as they are, the Scottish Government’s package of reforms to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) just don’t go far enough, writes Tony Cain, policy manager for the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO).

Neil Clapperton Dear Editor,

Annie Mauger Annie Mauger, executive director for the devolved nations and Republic of Ireland, explains what the organisation’s structural changes mean for members in Scotland.

Tom Barclay Tom Barclay, co-chair of the Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group reflects on 2015 and looks ahead to the next 12 months.

Rosemary Brotchie By Rosemary Brotchie, policy and research manager at Shelter Scotland

Richard Aird Introduction

Marty Walsh “I don’t know how Shelter Scotland get it so right!”

Adam Corlett Scotland’s Commission on Local Tax Reform has released its report – recommending the abolition and replacement of the current council tax system. Few would argue that council tax in its current form is particularly sensible or fair, so what happens next ahead of Scotland’s May ele

Lisa Glass In 2014-15, over 65,000 different households in Scotland approached their local authority for help with housing, either through the housing options service (58,825 approaches) or the homelessness route (35,764 applications).

James Battye Affordable house building is a key driver of Scotland’s economy, writes James Battye, policy officer at Shelter Scotland.

Jon Sparkes At Crisis we know it is possible for homeless people to find and sustain meaningful employment, and in doing so to rebuild their lives. But new research we have published finds that the conditionality and sanctions regime instead makes it much harder for homeless people to find work.

Jon Sparkes The Scottish Government blazed a trail in tackling homelessness, but there is no room for complacency, writes Jon Sparkes, chief executive at Crisis.

Paul Bradley Our society is facing major challenges in responding to the consequences of a housing crisis with poor quality housing coupled with a serious lack of affordable housing damaging the health and life chances of thousands of people in Scotland.

Alex Orr There is no doubt that the planning system in Scotland is indeed of urgent reform.