The Scottish Housing News Podcast

Mary Taylor discusses the history and development of housing associations in Scotland, exploring their origins, challenges, and future prospects.The episode offers insights into how housing policy has evolved over 50 years and what it means for tenants and policymakers today.Homes by Association: 50 years of housing associations in Scotland by Mary Taylor with Lynn McCulloch is available via Porto Press: https://portopress.com/products/9781849956154_homes-by-association?srsltid=AfmBOop_U8UwLAYs6N8vV8aqE_Mw0NLnDP-dBovURUaV7rsIoVYclnyUKieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner.Interested in sponsorship? Download our podcast media pack⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠.Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/⁠⁠

Discover how social housing providers are embracing responsible pet ownership through an innovative initiative from the Dogs Trust.This episode features insights from the charity's Pet‑Friendly Housing Lead Jennifer Leonard and Angus Housing Association’s Director of Housing Services Linlay Anderson on making housing more accommodating for pets while safeguarding property and community wellbeing.In this episode:The origins and goals of the Pet-Friendly Housing Pilot in ScotlandHow housing associations are updating policies to support responsible pet ownershipThe development and impact of Scotland’s first pet-friendly accreditation for social landlordsResources available for tenants and staff to promote animal welfareChallenges with property damage, antisocial behaviour, and legislative supportThe role of legislation, including the Housing Scotland Act, in enabling pet-friendly policiesPractical steps for landlords to balance animal welfare with tenancy managementFuture expansion plans for pet-inclusive housing initiatives across the UKThe mental health benefits of pet ownership, especially for vulnerable tenant groupsCollaboration with local authorities, legal frameworks, and external agencies for comprehensive supportTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction: The importance of pets in social housing01:17 - The Dogs Trust pet-friendly housing pilot: origins and objectives02:33 - Supporting homeless individuals with pets through the Together Through Homelessness scheme03:48 - Practical implications for tenants choosing between housing and pets05:15 - Angus Housing Association’s approach to pet policies and tenant support06:48 - Updating tenancy agreements and managing antisocial behaviour10:20 - Scotland’s first accredited pet-friendly social landlord: Manor Estates12:10 - The development of the pet-friendly toolkit and its sector reception13:21 - Resources for responsible pet ownership for tenants and staff14:39 - Practical changes in housing management and dealing with pet-related issues17:25 - Handling cases of animal neglect and abuse18:46 - Legal procedures and tenancy law in pet-related enforcement20:20 - Legislative updates: Scottish Housing Act 2025 and Renters’ Rights21:39 - Enhancements to landlord response times and appeal processes24:00 - The range of pets supported and restrictions in sheltered housing28:09 - The mental health benefits of pet ownership for older and vulnerable tenants33:46 - Addressing damage and contamination issues in properties36:22 - Future research, expansion, and cross-sector collaboration40:58 - Challenges with pets in social housing and the need for support42:12 - Advice for landlords hesitant about pet policies43:37 - Closing remarks: The importance of partnership and progressive policiesKieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner.Interested in sponsorship? Download our podcast media pack⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠.Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ScotHousingNews⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnews⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTd⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/scottishhousingnews.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews⁠⁠Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/⁠⁠

Gregor Morrison, national contractor manager at Aico and Bob Cairney, director of technical services at SELECT, offer a practical and Scottish-specific perspective on how the new duties around damp and mould will work on the ground.Gregor brings insight from Aico’s work as a market leader in home life safety systems and environmental monitoring, including live Scottish deployments.Bob offers the trade body perspective, representing electrical contractors who will be key to delivering compliant solutions under the new regime.Given the imminent start of the legislation in Scotland, it will be a timely and practical topic for listeners.A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/how-scotland-is-gearing-up-for-awaabs-law-podcast-transcriptKieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner.Interested in sponsorship? Download our podcast media pack ⁠here⁠.Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels:⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://x.com/ScotHousingNews⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnews⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTd⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/scottishhousingnews.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews⁠Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/⁠

"The planets are starting to align for change."In this episode of the Scottish Housing News podcast, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black discuss the urgent need for accessible housing in Scotland with Michael Driscoll, Chair of the Scottish Accessible Housing Network and CEO of Horizon Housing, and Jill Pritchard, Horizon’s Chair and a leading voice in inclusive design.They explore the role of the Scottish Accessible Housing Network, the importance of setting national targets for accessible housing, and the challenges of funding adaptations. The conversation emphasises the need for a holistic approach to housing that includes the voices of users and the integration of health and social care. They also discuss the role of the private sector in providing accessible housing and the importance of celebrating good practices in the field.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Accessible Housing in Scotland02:34 The Role of the Scottish Accessible Housing Network05:11 Urgency for Accessible Housing08:07 Setting National Targets for Accessible Housing10:55 Building Accessible Homes from the Start13:39 Involving Users in Housing Design16:41 Funding Challenges for Adaptations19:40 The Need for a National Strategy22:21 Holistic Approaches to Housing and Health25:19 The Role of Private Sector in Accessible Housing27:59 Celebrating Accessibility in Housing31:02 Future Directions for Accessible Housing NetworkFurther reading:The Scottish Accessible Housing Network Call to Action: https://www.horizonhousing.org/download/docm93jijm4n4017.pdf?ver=6746A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/the-scottish-accessible-housing-network-podcast-transcriptKieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner.Interested in sponsorship? Download our podcast media pack here.Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels:⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/⁠⁠ ⁠https://x.com/ScotHousingNews⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnews⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTd⁠ ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/scottishhousingnews.com⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNewsRead all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/⁠

In this episode of the Scottish Housing News Podcast, hosts Kieran Finlay and Jimmy Black discuss the pressing issue of tenement repairs in Scotland, focusing on the recent recommendations from the Scottish Law Commission regarding compulsory owners' associations and building reserve funds.Guests Mike Heffron, chief executive of Under One Roof Scotland and Gillian Campbell from Gillian Campbell Consulting provide insights into the challenges of fragmented ownership, the role of local authorities, and the financial realities of maintaining tenement properties.The conversation also explores lessons from European models, the importance of legislative support, and the future of tenement maintenance in the context of decarbonisation and community engagement.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Tenement Repairs and Ownership Challenges02:38 Scottish Law Commission's Recommendations05:00 Implementation Challenges and Owner Associations07:56 Role of Local Authorities in Tenement Maintenance10:44 Building Reserve Funds and Financial Models13:14 Cultural Shifts in Property Ownership15:53 Future of Tenement Maintenance and Decarbonization18:19 Legislative Support and Government Action21:06 Success Metrics for Owners Associations23:43 Conclusion and Future OutlookFurther reading:Tenement law: compulsory owners’ associations: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/news/tenement-law-compulsory-owners-associations/A Workable Model for Building Reserve Funds: https://underoneroof.scot/a-workable-model-for-building-reserve-funds-new-report-out-now/A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/compulsory-tenement-owners-associations-with-gillian-campbell-and-mike-heffron-podcast-transcriptKieran 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://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/⁠⁠ ⁠https://x.com/ScotHousingNews⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnews⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTd⁠ ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/scottishhousingnews.com⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews⁠ Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/⁠