News
East Lothian Housing Association and R3 to extend opening hours
As a result of the coronavirus crisis, East Lothian Housing Association (ELHA) and its in-house maintenance contractor R3 have both extended their opening hours.
Published 26 March 2020
Disparity of advice causing ‘two-tier’ construction system in Scotland
The Scottish Government has issued more guidance on what construction work is considered to be ‘critical’ at the moment but a leading trade body has warned of a two-tiered system due to a disparity of advice across the UK.
Published 26 March 2020
Charities issue plea to prevent COVID-19 evictions from UK asylum accommodation
A coalition of charities has called on Mears, Serco and the Home Office requesting an end to evictions from asylum accommodation during the COVID-19 crisis.
Published 26 March 2020
Kelly Fraser: Coronavirus and general meetings – what do RSLs need to know?
Kelly Fraser provides advice for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) wondering how to deal with governance issues, including the requirements to convene meetings, during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Published 26 March 2020
SFHA releases second COVID-19 briefing
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has published the second in its series briefings to help housing associations and co-operatives through the coronavirus crisis.
Published 26 March 2020
CaCHE briefing: What’s going on in Scottish local authority housing finance?
The UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) has published a new briefing paper which assesses the implications of the long term trends identified in recent government statistics on Scottish local authority housing revenue account data.
Published 26 March 2020
Penny Norton: No consultation lockdown
Given the current working conditions at housing associations across Scotland, Penny Norton reveals how online consultation can replace meetings usually carried out in person.
Published 26 March 2020
Mactaggart & Mickel boosts food banks
Family-owned house-builder Mactaggart & Mickel has handed £1,500 to food banks who are helping people in need amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Published 26 March 2020
Scottish Housing News joins forces with Homeless Network Scotland
Homeless Network Scotland is partnering with Scottish Housing News to collect and share the experiences and challenges faced by its members, the wider homelessness sector and people confronted directly with homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. In response to the emergency, Homeless Network Scotland is offering free membership to organisations and individuals. Their head of external relations, Martin Gavin, joins our team temporarily from today as a special correspondent on homelessness.
Published 25 March 2020
Craig Edward: Rent holiday is a non-starter
Craig Edward offers an alternative view to Grant Ager’s call for Scotland’s social landlords to consider a three-month rent holiday.
Published 25 March 2020
Scottish Government to ban all evictions for six months
Emergency coronavirus legislation will include a six-month ban on evictions from social and private rented sector accommodation, the Scottish Government has announced.
Published 25 March 2020
Wheatley Group offers empty homes as temporary homeless accommodation
Wheatley Group has announced that it will make empty homes available to local authorities as temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
Published 25 March 2020
Plans underway to provide homeless accommodation in Edinburgh
Plans have been put in place to protect people facing homelessness during the coronavirus outbreak in Edinburgh, thanks to the combined efforts of the local authority, public health, private and third sector workers.
Published 25 March 2020
Simon Community Scotland issues urgent appeal for funds
A Scottish charity seeking to ensure that homeless people are kept safe from coronavirus – by finding them accommodation in dedicated hotel space – has issued an urgent appeal to help make it happen.
Published 25 March 2020
Kelly Fraser: What RSLs need to know about coronavirus and data protection
All organisations across the world are facing challenges as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Kelly Fraser says many Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) will be concerned about what this means for their day-to-day operations.
Published 25 March 2020