Opinion

Gavin Leask visits Orkney to see why the islands have amongst the highest rate of empty homes anywhere in Scotland. Last week I spent three days up in the Orkney Islands, training the newest member of the Scottish Empty Homes Network, Rachael Bowes. Her post is part funded by the Scottish Government

Gillian Craig Gillian Craig looks at the risk attaching to ownership in an imperfect registration system.

People move in and out of properties every day. More often than not, the beginning and ending of tenancies go without any major problems – and words like ‘eviction’ never come into play. But, as Shelter Scotland’s Jocasta Mann writes, it can happen, and it is a daunting prospect if you’re

Architects, contractors and building commissioners must consider the design of new homes if Scotland is to fully support those with dementia, writes Lesley Palmer. People living with dementia often struggle to understand and navigate their built environment due to the sensory, mobility or cognitive

It has recently been suggested that we stop saying “homelessness can happen to anyone” because it somehow obscures the real risk factors and prevents those in power from tackling big structural issues. Shelter Scotland media officer Susie Rose reflects on when homelessness happened to her. These

Shelter Scotland asked private renters about the conditions in their property. Lisa Glass outlines what they had to say. In June 2017 we gathered the views of over 200 private tenants on the Scottish Government’s proposal to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented homes,

Jimmy Black Getting the creative digital sector together with charities was the theme of Shelter Scotland’s Building Digital Communities Event on July 19. I went to hear more about the new Shelter ‘I Need Help’ button, which will link homeless people and others in need to Shelter’s extensive

Etienne Duval (right) with Borderline volunteer Willie Donnelly. Picture: Mischa Frankl-Duval Etienne Duval, a supporter of Borderline, a charity which helps homeless Scots in London, talks about his passion for the charity’s work and why he felt compelled to leave a gift in his Will.

Bethany Christian Trust service user David, who has just secured his own flat and has started a new job working at a high end hotel in Edinburgh, details how his time at the charity’s Bethany House emergency resettlement unit provided him with a stable environment and help to live independently. I

Richard Jennings Castle Rock Edinvar managing director Richard Jennings asks whether other countries can provide inspiration on how to improve the quality of city living for the next 100 years.

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, Shelter Scotland’s Adam Lang outlines the housing rights of tenants throughout the country. The recent fire at Grenfell Tower in west London was a tragedy that has devastated the lives of local residents and the wider community. It was a stark reminder that

Ahead of the launch of the new ‘I need help’ button, Shelter Scotland’s Jocasta Mann explains more about how this tool works – and how it’s paving the way for a workshop event on July 19 that’ll bring charities and the digital world together. It’s a fast-moving world out there when it

Bruce Forbes Bruce Forbes, director of Angus Housing Association, writes on the cost of new council houses in Angus.

Jonathan Gordon Jonathan Gordon, managing director of letting agents Clan Gordon, writes on fire safety in the private rented sector.

It’s always a huge relief when your tenancy deposit comes back, even if you’re sure you left everything spick and span when you moved out! After the deposit is released by the protection scheme it’s registered with, you can claim it. But what if you’re one of the thousands of tenants who don