Last month, the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) assessed Blochairn as failing to comply with standards one, two, three, four and six, and Scottish Social Housing Charter outcomes two (communication) and four (quality of housing).

The Regulator has maintained Blochairn’s regulatory status of ‘non-compliant – working towards compliance’ and set out the required next steps for the Association, which include the immediate establishment of fire risks presented in four blocks of flats and outlining any required remedial works as a matter of urgency.

Blochairn must also provide regular updates to the Regulator and keep tenants informed of any potential voluntary transfer plans.

According to an updated engagement plan for Blochairn, the issues came to prominence in October 2022 when an independent governance review revealed significant non-compliance with regulatory standards, including business planning, risk management, tenant safety, and internal processes. Blochairn’s status was changed to “non-compliant – working towards compliance” in February 2023, and it developed an improvement plan.

In March 2023, Blochairn decided that transferring to another Registered Social Landlord (RSL) was necessary due to financial instability. However, fire safety risks identified in 2019 posed delays to this transfer, especially regarding a development with serious fire safety concerns. An updated fire risk assessment in October 2024 concluded a significant risk, requiring costly remedial actions that would severely impact Blochairn’s finances.

Despite engaging with the Scottish Government for funding, Blochairn struggled to provide sufficient assurance regarding its financial capacity and was slow to respond to requests for updates, including cashflow projections and financial models. In December 2024, Blochairn requested a transfer of assets under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 due to its financial difficulties.

As of early 2025, Blochairn has been taking steps to address these issues, including appointing new leadership and developing a transfer and fire safety action plan. However, urgent actions remain, such as completing building assessments by May 2025, addressing fire safety risks, and engaging with stakeholders for remediation support.

The Regulator said it continues to monitor Blochairn’s progress, and noted the Association’s constructive and open engagement to address its non-compliance. 

Ady Tester, chair of Blochairn Housing Association, told Scottish Housing News: “With reference to our Engagement Plan, I can confirm that we are working closely and positively with the Scottish Housing Regulator and now have plans in place which are addressing the issues identified.”