Opinion

In a guest blog for the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), Pedro Cameron from Housing Options Scotland highlights the link between homelessness and inequality, and explains why it’s crucial for local authorities to embed Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility (IDEA

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, David Pierpoint, chief executive officer at The Retrofit Academy, explores the skills gap in the retrofit sector and what’s needed to decarbonise housing stock in Scotland. Scotland, like the rest of t

Chris McGinn at PfH Scotland gives an overview of the new domestic retrofit standard, PAS 2035, and provides advice for housing associations and local authorities on how to prepare for and cope with the changes. Last year a new domestic retrofit standard was introduced to Scotland and acro

Margaret Corrigan from Cunninghame Housing Association's Lemon Aid Fuel Poverty & Advisory Service provides some detail on the issue of low carbon heating systems vs affordability for tenants. Energy prices have risen at unprecedented rates in the past year, and it is estimated that a further 80

Calum Allmond, associate and head of architectural services at DM Hall, discusses the building warrants and permissions needed for home improvements in Scotland. Scotland’s housing market continues to boom with prices reaching unprecedented levels, so perhaps this is a good time to put your ho

Paul Kelly argues that more collaboration and regular communications with planning authorities is required to get projects moving. It’s no surprise to me that the number of affordable homes started in the last quarter has decreased significantly from the same period last year. For private sale

To protect customers, the UK government has introduced a new code of practice and ombudsman scheme applying to all private buyers of new homes for owner-occupation anywhere in the UK. Finlay Campbell explains the details. The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB), an independent body established by Westmin

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, John Renwick, sector manager construction at ESP, reveals how Scotland’s colleges are transitioning at pace to develop low carbon heat and energy efficiency training facilities. The Scottish Government

Launching a regular SHN column on Technology Enabled Care in Housing (TECH), Steph Elliot highlights a new interim report that reveals advances made by the TECH programme over the past two and a half years. The social housing sector in Scotland reaches over 600,000 households across the country

Barry Johnstone explores the new approach to agile working being adopted post-Covid at Caledonia Housing Association including a move from large offices to smaller destination sites. I was interested to read recently that even City workers in London, are not rushing back to the square mile and old w

Lucie Dunn introduces a new guide to homelessness prevention published yesterday by Crisis which includes a compendium of projects, services and approaches with practical examples of homelessness prevention from Scotland and beyond. Yesterday Crisis published 75 Ways to Prevent Homelessnes

Aaron Hill, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations' (SFHA) director of policy and membership, announced the relaunch of SFHA members' forums and discusses how the changes will support members' needs. SFHA’s forums are a key part of our member offer – supporting us to engage directly

Fiona McPhail, principal solicitor at Shelter Scotland, highlights the implications of the Abdelwahab-Kaba Dafaalla v City of Edinburgh Council case. Abdelwahab-Kaba Dafaalla v City of Edinburgh Council concerns the issue of repeat or subsequent homeless applications, where a local authority has alr

Sally Thomas reflects on the SFHA's recent Annual Conference and how collaboration is key if the sector is to create the future it wants. It was so good to see so many of our members, associates and partner organisations, in person, at our recent Annual Conference. All SFHA conferences take a great

Craig Sanderson continues the recent discussion on procurement with a warning against a return to the dark days of  ‘suicide bidding’. There has been much ado about procurement recently with: