The author, Dr Stewart Montgomery, specialises in the implementation of housing and equality law into organisational practice.

The Evolution of Housing: Using History to Transform the Future, published by Cambridge Scholars, is released on 1st September 2025, and offers a deep dive into the economic, political and social forces that have shaped housing in the UK.

The author provides a detailed assessment of the evolution of social rented housing through the lens of housing law, while also examining the shifting landscape of private housing. The book places particular emphasis on Scotland, exploring how local developments fit within wider UK trends.

One of the most innovative sections focuses on housing association activities in the 1980s, with a detailed case study on Partick Housing Association. This unique examination sheds light on how housing management services evolved during a pivotal decade, particularly in Glasgow, filling a gap in the historical record.

Beyond documenting change, the book offers two alternative approaches to tackling today’s housing challenges, blending legal analysis with philosophical and interdisciplinary perspectives. The result is a work that argues housing law is inherently reformist, adapting to political and economic pressures over time.

“This book is for anyone who wants to understand not just what happened in housing policy, but why it happened, and how those lessons can guide future decisions,” Dr Montgomery explains.

The author brings decades of academic and professional expertise to the subject, having been affiliated with the University of Strathclyde, the University of the West of Scotland, and De Montfort University, as well as several Scottish colleges. His previous nationally significant works include the Equality Data Collection National Guide (2021) and Guidance on Race Equality in the Scottish Social Rented Housing Sector (2010), both key references in the sector.

The Evolution of Housing: Using History to Transform the Future will appeal to academics, policy makers, social scientists, housing professionals, solicitors, students, and anyone with an interest in the forces shaping our homes and communities.

The book will be available in print and digital formats from 1st September via Cambridge Scholars Publishing, as well as Waterstones.

Following the completion of his book, Dr Montgomery is now seeking to donate his housing book collection, comprising around 160-180 books, to a housing organisation. The collection could be of benefit to anyone looking to set up an internal library for staff and students alike. The books are available for collection only. Interested parties can contact kieran@scottishnews.com.