Gwsf

The falling rates of social housing new build approvals and starts should mean a greater emphasis on the role acquisitions can play in boosting new supply, the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) has argued. This week’s latest Scottish Government statistics, repor

‘Building Resilience in Challenging Times’ was the theme of the day at the annual Regeneration Conference held by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) last Friday 23 June. Attended by over 100 delegates, the particular focus was on how community-based hou

The proposed takeover of Reidvale Housing Association in the east end of Glasgow could be seen as a farce if it weren’t so disturbing, according to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations  (GWSF) director David Bookbinder. This week, Reidvale announced that the pref

Following the appointment of a new minister for housing, we assembled a panel of former guests for a snap reaction. David Bookbinder, the director of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations and Jane Wood, the Homes for Scotland chief executive, join Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Bl

Housing has a minister all to itself for the first time in a while. Paul McLennan MSP has been appointed and on the face of things, he’s well qualified for the job. He served 15 years in local government; he sits on the Local Government and Housing Committee; and he’s a member of 24 cro

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

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