News

Derek Mackay Legislation to remove the automatic Council Tax discount for second homes has been laid in Parliament, paving the way for further reforms due to take effect from April 2017.

Ofgem has announced proposals to cap charges imposed by energy suppliers for the installation of pre-payment meters, and end them altogether for the most vulnerable customers. Under current rules, suppliers can charge customers warrant costs when installing a prepayment meter (PPM) which can range f

Homeless people in Moray spent a total of 51,560 days in temporary accommodation last year – an increase of more than 3000 days on the previous year. Moray Council’s communities committee were told this week that the council and its homelessness partners currently have more than 150 units of tem

Sir Harry Burns (far right) and fellow Wheatley Foundation board member Jean-Albert Nietcho (far left) with some of the new intake of apprentices who will be working with GHA Housing, care and property management group Wheatley has this year doubled its number of Modern Apprentices.

Maryhill colleagues get ready to clean up the school grounds The team from Maryhill Housing Association did their bit for the community again when scores headed out for their third ‘Wee Volunteer Day’.

North Lanarkshire Council has altered its repairs and maintenance (R&M) scheme to encourage owners to take part in the initiative. The Scheme of Assistance has been operating for a number of years and helps property owners carry out necessary works to their properties.

A Highland community has indentified affordable housing among a number of local strategic priorities for the area. Members of Highland Council’s Badenoch and Strathspey area committee have drawn up a list of priorities in order to ensure that local needs and issues are taken into account by the co

Clackmannanshire Council has agreed to extend its partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau in light of the impact of welfare reform on local residents. Councillors agreed to transfer £17,000 from the Housing Revenue Account to CAB to allow it to expand the services it offers to council tenants e

Scotland’s rental culture is happier, friendlier and more settled than that south of the Border though it is still under threat from rental increases, according to new research. A study by AXA Business Insurance found that more tenants rent as a matter of choice, and financial confidence is rising

Innes Smith Scottish housebuilder Springfield Properties has seen profits rise 64 per cent to a record £5.1 million to May 2016.

Plans have been drawn up for a student housing complex on the derelict site in Aberdeen. Proposed by West Coast Estates, the development would see accommodation for up to 100 students built next to the Bobbin Mill pub at 500 King Street.

Mary Taylor The publication of the latest housing statistics for Scotland has highlighted that only stability in housing investment will increase the supply of affordable homes, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has said.

Kevin Stewart Up to 100 affordable homes will be delivered in island communities through a new £5 million fund.

Andy Wightman Andy Wightman MSP, housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, used the debate on housing at Holyrood to urge Scottish ministers to stop developers inflating the cost of land.

Bill Chapman, chairman of OTRA, (left) and Colin Hawkins, CEO of the Osprey Group Two well known social landlords in the north-east’s housing sector are coming together under a new name and look.