Opinion

Stewart Macleod, managing director of the property business within AtkinsRéalis, outlines the importance of responding to the Scottish Government's policy consultation on a Passivhaus equivalent standard. The Scottish Government’s Passivhaus equivalent policy is currently out for consul

As the Prospecthill Court Retrofit Project comes to an end, River Clyde Homes' head of energy & sustainability Duncan Smith shares the challenges and benefits of bringing multi-storey blocks up to a modern standard.

Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017, the Grenfell Inquiry’s Final Report (also called the Phase 2 Report), was published in September. It paints a bleak picture of years of failures by government and others in the construction industry and calls for far-reaching reform

Clare Booth from Aberdeenshire housebuilders Coldwells Build explains why the company is embracing the Passivhaus standard. The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a consultation on a policy to introduce a Scottish Passivhaus equivalent for newbuild housing across Scotland. The internationa

Harper Macleod partner Collette Miller takes a look through the Right to Repair Regulations to highlight the repairing obligations on Scottish social landlords for windows and describes what challenges are presented in meeting those obligations.

Professor Douglas Robertson continues his dive into the main findings of the RentBetter research project led by Indigo House and funded by the Nationwide Foundation. The RentBetter research shows that changing the legal basis of the tenancy has resulted in the majority of tenants feeling safe and se

Homeless Network Scotland's chief executive Maggie Brünjes responds to new figures that revealed a record-breaking 10,110 children are living in homeless accommodation and an increase in the number of homeless applications. The annual homelessness statistics released yesterday by the Scottish G

On the eve of the Housing & Social Care Accessibility Summit, Dougie Herd from headline sponsor Campion Homes says housebuilders are ready to build more accessible homes if the government provides the necessary support. Scotland is at a pivotal moment in addressing the need for accessible housin

Professor Douglas Robertson provides an overview of the main findings of the RentBetter research project led by Indigo House and funded by the Nationwide Foundation. The reform of any policy introduces a new set of dynamics within any system. Any policy’s success measured against its stated am

Dr Joel Callow from Beyond Carbon channels his inner car showroom salesman to explain why Scotland needs absolute targets for energy in housing. “The fuel economy? Yes I have very good news on that front madam, you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. This car has been benchmarked a

Ahead of tomorrow's Scottish Housing Day, Muir Group CEO Martin Smith looks at some changes on the horizon, particularly from the Programme for Government, and how we can overcome today's challenges to give the people of Scotland the homes and communities that they deserve. The shortage of home

Jimmy Black hears about some great work happening in Perth & Kinross; then thinks about people excluded from the housing market by high prices and poverty. We’re running out of words. We’ve used “housing emergency” to explain the failure of our housing markets to provide

Gary Gray from Muir Timber Systems outlines the benefits of timber frame builds and how they could play a key role in fixing the current housing crisis. The housing crisis in Scotland is becoming ever more acute. More than 110,000 more homes are needed to alleviate what even the Scottish Government

Changes in lending practices have seen RSLs move away from their traditionally cautious approach to managing interest rate fluctuations to explore more complex options, writes Derek Hogg. Scottish registered social landlords (RSLs) can be a cautious breed. Indeed, when it comes to exposure

Senior solicitor Euan Bathgate outlines some of the challenges faced by rural RSLs compared to those in the central belt. Rural housing providers in Scotland face unique and complex challenges that set them apart from urban areas. From meeting net-zero targets to grappling with geographical isolatio