Shelter Scotland

Prevention approach to homelessness sees applications fall by four per cent

A national approach to homelessness prevention has been praised for contributing towards a sixth consecutive annual fall in the number of people who are homeless.

Published 30 June 2015

Call for bids for £4m empty homes fund

A new fund has been launched which aims to create additional residential accommodation in Scotland’s urban and rural towns.

Published 29 June 2015

Black’s Blog: Councillor Black reports on Making Renting Right

You are looking for your first rented flat, and a landlord says "give me £200 and I'll keep this flat for you. But back out and the money's mine". Would you know this was an illegal premium? If the landlord then said: "Leave the place in good order and I'll give you back a month's rent", would you know this was an illegal deposit?

Published 26 June 2015

Conference to put PRS tenancy agreement proposal under the spotlight

Reforming Scotland’s private rented sector to make it fit for the 21st Century and fair for all is the theme of a major conference taking place today.

Published 24 June 2015

Scottish Gas employees help raise thousands for Shelter Scotland

Hundreds of Scottish Gas employees, their friends and families, walked, jogged or cycled for miles through Bo’ness on Sunday, raising thousands of pounds in support of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland.

Published 23 June 2015

Public urged to report empty homes as helpline launched

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership has appealed to members of the public to report empty homes in their communities using a free national helpline.

Published 16 June 2015

Blog: Strengthening the voice of private tenants

Ellie Hutchinson, Private Renting Project Manager, introduces Shelter Scotland’s national private tenants forum. Running in four local areas, and supported by a national online presence, this forum aims to strengthen private tenants’ voices in policy formation.

Published 15 June 2015

Commission calls for ‘radical’ approach to tackle growing housing crisis

A major report has called for a radical look at the future direction of housing policy in Scotland and links the benefits of having a decent, safe and secure home to better health and life chances for all.

Published 10 June 2015

Rent controls ‘could deter Edinburgh Festival tourists’

New controls over private sector rents would price visitors out of staying in Edinburgh during the festivals, letting agents have claimed.

Published 5 June 2015

Blog: Why we need to Make Renting Right

By Adam Lang, head of communications & policy at Shelter Scotland

Published 5 June 2015

Scottish Government ‘on track’ to meet 2016 affordable homes target

The Scottish Government is ahead of its five-year target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes by March 2016, despite a decrease in the number of social sector homes being built.

Published 3 June 2015

Report: The Smith Commission and beyond: the devolution of housing benefit to the Scottish Parliament

Shelter Scotland has published a paper which sets out the principles it believes should underpin further devolution of social security - including housing benefit – to the Scottish Parliament, and what steps the Scottish Government and UK governments should take in relation to the devolution of social security.

Published 2 June 2015