The Scottish Housing News Podcast

It was back in December that the Scottish Government agreed to progress legislation proposed by Scottish Labour MSP Alex Rowley that will, they said, “introduce new minimum environmental design standards for all new-build housing to meet the Passivhaus standard, or a Scottish equivalent, in order to improve energy efficiency and thermal performance”. Net zero minister Patrick Harvie said at the time the government would fast-track the process of adopting the standard in law by using secondary legislation and bypassing the need to take a member’s bill through Holyrood. Since then, while presumably consulting on what this agreed definition will look like, we've witnessed the beginning of changes at the very top of government which could yet have an impact on this Bill’s introduction. So we thought it would be helpful to step back from the politics of Passivhaus to discuss the realities of meeting the standard in Scotland. We’ve reached out to Dan Hyde and Jeff Colley of Zero Ambitions Podcast for advice, a podcast about sustainability, the built environment, and zero carbon goals. In 2003 Dan and Jeff co-founded an Irish sustainable building magazine, Construct Ireland, which was rebranded as Passive House Plus in 2012, and expanded into separate UK and Irish editions, with Jeff remaining at the helm as editor ever since. We are also joined by someone who was faced with the reality of planning a Passivhaus programme and finding the money to do so. Andrew Kubski is the director of development and asset management at West of Scotland Housing Association, which has recently completed Scotland’s largest development of flats to meet the energy efficiency standard. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-passive-hooses-for-scotland Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

ALACHO, the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, brings together those tasked with dealing with a multitude of issues which are increasingly shaped by worldwide events. The Covid pandemic led to emergency measures on rents and evictions, while the ongoing conflict in Ukraine prompted efforts to provide homes for refugees. Even the damp and mould in people’s homes can be traced back to a hike in energy costs. John Mills, head of housing at Fife Council and current co-chair of ALACHO, joins Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black to share how chief housing officers across Scotland's councils are tackling these issues while managing inflationary pressures impacting the budgets of councils and their tenants. He also reveals the one thing the Scottish Government can do to help most, if not all, of these challenges. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-the-chief-housing-officers-taking-on-damp-homelessness-and-refugee-accommodation Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

The ongoing regeneration of Dalmarnock and the surrounding area has long fascinated Jimmy Black, both from a personal and professional point of view, so we decided to speak to two people at the heart of it. Until recently, Martin McKay was the executive director of regeneration at Clyde Gateway, the urban regeneration organisation which is leading much of the transformation of the area, but has since stepped up to the role of chief executive designate ahead of taking on the full role in a few months’ time. Rosie Robertson is the Glasgow area local community representative on the regeneration board at Clyde Gateway and a long-time resident of Dalmarnock. Delving into the past, present and future of Dalmarnock, we find out the catalyst for such a transformation, the early benefits of the changes, and what is still to be achieved. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-finding-the-clyde Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Josiah Lockhart took the helm of Changeworks late last year to help implement the environmental charity's new focus on decarbonising Scotland’s homes. Josiah joins Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black to discuss Changeworks' new purpose, the enormity of the challenge and the tools and resources the charity is using to meet the challenge head on. He also gives his views on the Scottish Government's plans to introduce a Passivhaus equivalent to become the minimum standard for all new housing in the country. Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Continuing with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) theme, we discuss whether housing associations, membership bodies and other organisations within the sector should be looking to increase diversity among staff, leadership and at board level. Why is it important? And what resources are available for those looking to attract a broader range of backgrounds and experiences? Joining Kieran and Jimmy are Lara Oyedele, the current president of the Chartered Institute of Housing, who is seeking to raise awareness of the importance of racial diversity within the leadership of the housing sector with her CIH presidential campaign, ‘In My Shoes’, Callum Chomczuk, the national director for CIH Scotland and chair of the internal EDI group which for the past two years has been working to improve EDI throughout CIH and its membership, and Fash Fasoro, the CEO of social enterprise DataKirk. Fash helped organise the recent Scottish Black Talent Summit and offers insight on how to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. If you want to support Lara’s Shoe Aid crowdfunder, here’s the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-my-shoes-by-lara-oyedele Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-is-scotlands-housing-sector-racially-diverse Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Housing Options Scotland and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) have come together to produce a series of 'In Conversation' blogs and podcast-style recordings which tell stories about why accessible and inclusive housing, and housing-related services, are key to people’s lives. Recognising a gap in evidence and recorded lived experience for protected characteristics, they want to shine a light on that and aim to influence the housing sector in embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) into practice. In this episode, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black speak to Dr Gareth Young and Pedro Cameron to offer insights into what people experience in their housing journeys and identify areas where improvements and better evidence are needed. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-stories-against-discrimination Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act gives Ministers temporary powers to cap rent increases for private and social tenants, as well as for student accommodation, until at least 31 March 2023, effectively freezing rents for most tenants during this period. The legislation also prevents the enforcement of eviction actions resulting from the current cost of living crisis and includes a reform of the law on damages for unlawful evictions. Patrick Harvie MSP, minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights, led on the bill, and he joins Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black to respond to concerns from around the housing sector and give some clarity as to what will happen after 31 March. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-drilling-down-into-the-tenant-protection-act Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Back in 2020, Caledonia Housing Association carried out a comprehensive staff survey to review the impact of new working arrangements during lockdown and ensure staff are provided with the support to adapt to new practices and maintain key services for tenants. The survey was a part of the formation and implementation of its 'Agile for Everyone' programme - a new way of working which affords staff flexible time and location arrangements. To find out about this programme, co-hosts Jimmy Black and Kieran Findlay visit Caledonia's head office to speak to its director of people Barry Johnstone. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-caledonias-agile-people Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

The National Housing and Dementia Forum has published a report that sets out recommendations for how the Scottish Government and partner organisations can better support people to live well with dementia. Over the past year, the Forum gathered evidence from a wide range of experts and people with lived experience of dementia. Co-chairs Ashley Campbell, policy and practice manager at CIH Scotland, and Lesley Palmer, chief architect of the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling, speak to Jimmy Black and Kieran Findlay about their findings and why it is so important that any future dementia strategy considers the role of housing and planning. Lesley highlights the Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Tool and Ashley makes a pitch for organisations to sign up to the Housing and Dementia Framework. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-understanding-housing-and-dementia A discussion paper has been developed by the Scottish Government to help people respond to a National Conversation on the future of dementia policy in Scotland. Find out more here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-conversation-inform-new-dementia-strategy-discussion-paper/ The Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Tool combines the latest research on designing for cognitive change with the expertise of leading architects based at the University’s Dementia Services Development Centre. It replaces DSDC’s Dementia Design Audit Tool which was first developed in 2008 and has influenced the design of care buildings worldwide. Find out more here: https://www.dementia.stir.ac.uk/our-services/ea-ddat The Housing and Dementia Framework is available here: https://www.cih.org/policy/scottish-housing-and-dementia-framework Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Social housing tenants have a statutory right to have a say in the running of their homes, but what does that mean in practice? TPAS Scotland has been providing support in this very field for over 40 years and has launched a new campaign to help housing organisations and tenants to build better relationships as we recover from the pandemic. To discuss this campaign and all things tenant participation, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black are joined by Colin Stewart - a Castlehill Housing Association tenant and Scottish Housing Regulator board member, Louise McNeilage – a tenant and community engagement facilitator at Scottish Borders Housing Association, and Helen Barton - an associate at TPAS. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-what-does-tenant-participation-look-like-in-practice More information on Regional Networks is available at https://www.regionalnetworks.org.uk/ The link to the Back on Track programme as well as TPAS’s other services can be found here: https://tpasscotland.org.uk/tpas-scotland-covid-back-on-track-programme/ SBHA and SBTO were runners-up in the Best Practice in Digital Involvement category at the Tpas Scotland Good Practice Awards in June 2022. Digital Involvement Runner-up Award for SBHA & SBTO | Scottish Borders Housing Association More information can also be found on: Tenant Participation How can I get involved? | Scottish Borders Housing Association (sbha.org.uk) SBTO The SBTO | Scottish Borders Housing Association (sbha.org.uk) Scrutiny Scrutiny | Scottish Borders Housing Association (sbha.org.uk) Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Ahead of Homes for Scotland's Annual Conference 2022, Jimmy Black and Kieran Findlay speak to the organisation's new CEO Jane Wood who is just three months into her new post. We discuss developer contributions and the recent Homes for Scotland research on the extent of affordable housing contributions by private developers, NPF4 and the availability of land, as well as the need to define modern methods of construction and whether innovation has progressed to desired levels. The conversation moves on to the impact a potential long-term rent freeze could have on house building and the upcoming Housing Bill and we round up with a preview of the Annual Conference. Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Ahead of a BiteSize Briefing on the Future of High Rise Housing to be held later this month, Jimmy Black and Kieran Findlay lead a roundtable discussion on the topic with SHARE's learning & development officer Debra Campbell, who is organising the event, Stephen Llewellyn, head of housing solutions at North Lanarkshire Council, and Mairi Clark, marketing and events officer at SHARE and herself a high-rise tenant. Stephen talks at length about North Lanarkshire Council's decision to demolish all 48 tower blocks over the next 25 years and its ongoing consultation with residents. Also, the panel share their experiences (both good and bad) of living in high rise homes. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-future-of-the-high-rise Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Jack Rillie is the man charged with leading a new Alliance which aims to eradicate homelessness by 2030. According to Jack, if the same service providers are delivering the same services in 8 years' time as they do at the moment then he'll have "monumentally failed" in his job. Only a few days into his new post, Jack joined Scottish Housing News editor Kieran Findlay and co-host Jimmy Black to discuss the challenge ahead. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-the-challenge-of-ending-homelessness-in-glasgow Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

From 1 October, the Coronavirus Recovery and Reform Act abolishes mandatory grounds for repossession (ie for eviction) and the First Tier Tribunal will only evict where the members believe it to be reasonable in the circumstances. Given these significant changes, Scottish Housing News editor Kieran Findlay interviewed Daryl McIntosh from Propertymark, while co-host Jimmy Black spoke to Labour MSP for the North East, Mercedes Villalba, and Alison Bavidge from the Scottish Association of Social Work. Kieran and Jimmy then catch up to discuss those interviews and the impact of the new legislation. Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-the-dramatic-changes-brought-by-abolishing-mandatory-evictions Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Scottish Housing News editor Kieran Findlay and co-host Jimmy Black embark on a whistle-stop tour of housing issues with Housing Quality Network CEO Alistair McIntosh taking in housing standards, Grenfell, regulation, tenant representation and much more. Alistair helped to set up the arm's length organisation which operated Grenfell Tower and remembers the strong, capable tenants involved at the start. He's been watching the Grenfell Inquiry closely and is disappointed by the failure of so many professionals to prevent the tragedy. He is also completely convinced that the trend to fill housing association board positions with professionals to the exclusion of tenants is a big mistake. As he says in one of his own blogs... "A working-class board member is something to be". Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-a-working-class-board-member-is-something-to-be Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

Last month a survey commissioned by Places for People Scotland revealed some of the stigmas that still surround social housing in Scotland. To discuss this in detail, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black sit down with Places For People Scotland’s managing director Tom Norris who reveals the mixed results of the survey, his solutions to help eradicate stigma and how Places For People Scotland are implementing some of those in its developments. We also discuss attitudes which may be held by some of those who design and manage social rented housing and the role played by the media. Our article on the report is available here https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/new-scottish-poll-reveals-stigma-and-attitudes-towards-social-housing Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-social-housing-stigma Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news at www.scottishhousingnews.com and sign up for our free daily newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bkCDxL

Jimmy Black attends the recent Holyrood launch of the Scottish Housing with Care Taskforce report and speaks to some of those in attendance including Paul McLennan MSP to get a range of views about Housing with Care and how Scotland can meet the challenge of housing an ageing population. Then Kieran Findlay sits down with Gareth Lyon, director of policy and communications at ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators), to discuss the taskforce, the report and ARCO's model where older people come together in a purpose-built, carefully designed community, enjoy leisure facilities and receive the care they individually need. The report is available here  https://www.arcouk.org/sites/default/files/SHWCT%20findings%20document%20June%2022.pdf Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-housing-with-care-what-does-it-mean Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news at www.scottishhousingnews.com and sign up for our free daily newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bkCDxL

The use of the term ‘affordable’ has been helpful to those who deliver homes in Scotland, but for others, it has become vague and redundant. Michael Carberry of Blochairn Housing Association is one of the latter. Thankfully, he agreed to come on to the podcast to air his views. John Blackwood from the Scottish Association of Landlords tackles the affordability question for landlords and tenants in the private rented sector and we also hear from Gordon Maloney and members of tenants’ union Living Rent*. *Jimmy's introduction refers to Living Rent as a private tenants union. In fact, tenants of all tenures are members of Living Rent. Blochairn Housing Association - https://blochairn.org/ Scottish Association of Landlords - https://scottishlandlords.com/ Living Rent- https://www.livingrent.org/ Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-affordable Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news at www.scottishhousingnews.com and sign up for our free daily newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bkCDxL

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership national project manager Shaheena Din joins Jimmy Black and Kieran Findlay to discuss the number of empty homes in Scotland and outline why local authorities should have an Empty Homes Officer and empty homes strategy. Scottish Empty Homes Partnership - https://emptyhomespartnership.scot/ Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-filling-up-the-empties Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news at www.scottishhousingnews.com and sign up for our free daily newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bkCDxL

Jimmy Black and Kieran Findlay are joined by Kirsty McKechnie, early warning system project manager at the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland,and Aaron Hill, director of membership and policy at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, for a fascinating discussion on poverty and inequality where they find much to agree on about the links between housing and social security. SFHA - https://www.sfha.co.uk/ Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland - https://cpag.org.uk/scotland Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode, here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-no-social-housing-without-the-social Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner. Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels: https://twitter.com/ScotHousingNews https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/ https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news at www.scottishhousingnews.com and sign up for our free daily newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bkCDxL