News

Harry McGuigan New guidance has been issued to support the development of Housing Options approaches in Scotland’s local authorities.

Councillors in South Ayrshire have agreed to make cuts to a number of non-essential services in order to balance the books in light of the “harsh finance settlement” from the Scottish Government. South Ayrshire Council took the decision to protect essential or ‘life and limb’ services as it

David Wilson A new grant-giving educational charity is seeking expressions of interest from projects which aim to support improvements in the private rented sector in Scotland.

Urban Union’s second phase plans for the Pennywell Living development Pennywell and Muirhouse in Edinburgh is set to receive £1.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grants Fund.

Alan Ward Landlords taking ‘reasonable steps’ will no longer be immediately criminalised for failing to pick up illegal tenants following changes to the UK government’s Right to Rent legislation.

Cabinet secretary Alex Neil MSP meets Wheatley Group apprentices in Wheatley House Wheatley Group has launched a drive to recruit 37 new Modern Apprentices.

West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative has announced it is to freeze all rents for 2016/17. The Co-operative’s tenant controlled management committee set the rent charges for all its properties for the next financial year following full consultation with all WWHC tenant/members.

Grampian Housing Association has sponsored pupils from Fraserburgh Academy in Aberdeenshire with their award winning project in the Go4Set 2015/16 Challenge organised by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT). The team faced tough competition from other secondary schools in the North East to secure

COSLA president David O’Neill The Scottish Government has failed to deliver any meaningful change with its council tax reform proposals, according to COSLA.

CIH Scotland director Annie Mauger and Landlord Accreditation Scotland chair John Blackwood mark launch of new ‘Let Well’ programme at the CIH Scotland Annual Conference A new best practice training programme has been launched for letting agents in Scotland’s private rented housing sector.

Social housing provider Sanctuary’s project to replace Cumbernauld’s high-rise blocks is building momentum. Three blocks at Allanfauld Road in Seafar were demolished to make room for a £12.7 million development of 111 new flats which will be available by summer 2017.

Clydebank Housing Association is to apply a 1.7 per cent rent increase for 2016/17 to enable the Association to continue to provide competitive and affordable rents, as well as allow for future investment in the maintenance of its housing stock. A proposed increase of between 1.7 per cent and 3 per

Amanda Wiewiorka The current combination of tax changes will hurt small investors, leading to an insufficient supply of suitable rental accommodation to meet demand in Angus, says Amanda Wiewiorka, company director at Wardhaugh Property.

Progress on community planning has not yet achieved the major change needed to fulfil its potential to reduce inequalities and put communities at the heart of delivering public services, Audit Scotland said today. Community planning involves councils and other public bodies working with communities,

Plans for the Waterfront Plaza development CALA Homes has revealed conceptual plans for around 450 - 500 much needed homes as part of a wider residential led development proposal on a former industrial dockland site in Leith.