Tenancy sustainment support provided by housing associations is crucial but under increasingly intense pressure, according to a new report from the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF). From research carried out in the second half of 2022, the Forum says that feedback fr
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Void properties are remaining empty for unnecessary periods of time because housing association staff are spending tens of thousands of hours trying to contact energy suppliers to sort out meter problems, according to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF).
An agreed definition of a Scottish equivalent of the Passivhaus standard which will become the minimum for all new housing in the country is to be the subject of consultation between the Scottish Government and the building industry, Patrick Harvie has confirmed. Last month, the
The Scottish Government has decided not to extend rent controls for social housing providers beyond March 2023 with social landlord representatives bodies announcing their members’ plans for below-inflation rent increases for the next financial year. COSLA has issued a statement of intent whic
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and CIH have criticised the Scottish Government for reducing its funding for the Affordable Supply Programme as part of its 2023-24 Scottish Budget yesterday.
Reidvale Housing Association’s decision to seek a larger association to take it over is a matter of deep regret and one that will be a betrayal of the local community, according to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF). The Forum says it has had serious concerns
The report of the Glasgow Place Commission has been warmly welcomed by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) which said it is keen to highlight that in recommending the establishment of 'Place Associations', the report cites the city’s community-based
The power of ‘local’ has once again been strongly evidenced by the latest Charter data but wider threats to the independence of community-based housing associations still exist, according to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF). Produced for GWSF by Scotl
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to ensure that whatever legal mechanism is used to freeze all rents until 31/3/23, it is capable of being discontinued for the social housing sector after that date. On 6 September, the First Minister announced a rent freeze and evictions moratorium for
David Bookbinder considers the financial implications a proposed freeze or cap on social housing rents would have for a housing association's Net Zero aspirations. As always after populist announcements, it’s good to get real about the implications. A single year’s rent freeze next April
The chances of building and maintaining community wealth in a local area are greatly increased by the long term presence of a proactive community anchor organisation, the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) has said. Community wealth building was the theme of the Forum&
The UK Government's plan to extend the Right to Buy (RTB) their home to all housing association tenants in England is a "retrograde step" that could erode the supply of affordable housing, it has been warned.
Outlining the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations' response to the Scottish Government's Rented Sector Strategy consultation, director David Bookbinder argues that the notion of a unified rental sector is wishful thinking with little grounding in reality. At any
More than three-quarters of those on the governing bodies of community-based housing associations are local people, according to a survey by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF). The Forum said the research is very encouraging as a number of associations have been st
Performance on tenant services provided by community-based housing associations continues to be strong despite the obvious challenges faced by landlords and tenants during Covid, according to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF). The Forum’s Charter Report focu