Insight

Ahead of the Scottish election, Jennifer Lewis, RSM's senior analyst for real estate & construction, argues that incentivising developers is key to meeting government housebuilding targets. Most parties have shown a shared ambition to build a significant number of new homes, with targets varying

What do the manifesto pledges mean for homeowners, buyers and sellers in real terms? ESPC’s CEO, Paul Hilton, reveals what he really thinks of the promises made by the political parties ahead of next month’s Holyrood elections. When election time rolls around, it’s always interesti

Each year, the Chartered Institute of Building Scotland Awards offer a moment to pause and recognise the outstanding achievements shaping our built environment – and 2026 promises to be no exception, writes Lynne McKay, CIOB’s Regional Manager for Scotland. I’m delighted to say thi

Building on a plenary session at Scotland's Housing Festival, a visit to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and a recent report highlighting key issues around accessibility, the Housing team at the University of Stirling shine a light on the importance of fire doors and shares a SFRS referr

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations director David Bookbinder shares his top six election manifesto misconceptions. It’s a funny old business looking through the main parties’ election pledges on housing. Some good intentions around, and some fairly radical ideas,

With a significant proportion of the current workforce approaching retirement and demand for services increasing, Sarah Steel, head of people at Hanover Scotland, argues that attracting the next generation isn't just beneficial but it's essential, and that social housing's purpose-driven nature shou

Having stepped away from her role at NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland to set up a new support organisation, Ruth Robin considers the Ask and Act homelessness measures and whether the duties can have the anticipated impact without shared accountability in planning and commissioning. The Housing (S

Alator Data Services director Kerry Brown looks ahead to changes in damp and mould regulations for Scottish landlords. The proposed Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 are set to become a defining moment for how damp and mould is managed across the sector.

The introduction of The Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026, which took effect from 1 April, represents a quietly significant moment for Scotland’s residential investment landscape, particularly for those advising on Build to Rent (BTR) schemes, writes St

Construction is at a crossroads and faces a significant workforce challenge, but also an opportunity to consciously widen the talent pool, argues Marion Forbes, director of performance and organisational change at AC Whyte and Female Leaders in Construction (FLIC) advisory board member. Constru

Homeless Network Scotland chief executive Maggie Brünjes discusses how the eight relevant bodies responsible for delivering the Ask and Act duties can use their collective influence – not only to prevent homelessness, but to drive the upstream change needed to tackle its root causes. For

In a follow-up to a response by Dr James Patrick Ferns from the Dalmarnock Village Housing Campaign to David Bookbinder’s article on ‘Navigating the political correctness around damp and mould’, a social housing tenant has shared their own experience. I am writing as a residen

As Scotland continues to grapple with housing supply challenges, much of the conversation has rightly focused on increasing the number of homes being delivered. While that is clearly essential, it is only part of the solution, writes Lynsey Jackson. With sustained pressure on housing supply, there i

Continuing a series of blogs for Scottish Housing News ahead of the analogue to digital switch-off, Sharon Hannah, project manager at the ​Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, discusses the urgent preparations housing providers and telecare teams must make ahead of January 2027 deadl

Robina Qureshi argues that Glasgow's housing emergency stems from decades of policy failure and insufficient supply, not from refugees, and challenges Reform's claim that migrants are being prioritised over local people. In the run up to the Scottish elections, Reform UK is again falsely blaming ref