Insight

Jocelyne Fleming, policy and public affairs officer for the CIOB in Scotland, argues that draft cladding legislation has highlighted Scotland’s wider built environment safety challenge. Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep at night.

Never mind what you think about it, the rejection by shareholders of Places for People’s bid for Reidvale Housing Association throws up some big issues.

Marcus Di Rollo examines the impacts of the Scottish Government's rent cap on investors, developers, and tenants, and explores the upcoming challenges and potential changes in rent control policies. The Scottish Government’s rent cap divides opinion. On one hand, it has arguably protected

Claire Campbell explains why legislation is needed to address the scourge of mould in rented properties. In December 2022, I wrote about the sad death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale in December 2020 as a result of his exposure to damp and mould in his family’s rented property, and str

Grampian Housing Association CEO Craig Stirrat offers his thoughts on the forthcoming release of the next Scottish House Condition Survey (2022). With the (pre) announcement that the 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is due by the end of February 2024, the paraphrase, “Houston, we ha

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