The Scottish Housing News Podcast

75 - Scottish Housing Day: Celebrating good neighbours with Callum Chomczuk and Jamie Ballantine

In this episode of the Scottish Housing News Podcast, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black discuss the theme of 'Everybody Needs Good Neighbours' for Scottish Housing Day. They explore the importance of community and neighbourliness, the role of housing associations in fostering social connections, and the challenges of social isolation.Guests Callum Chomczuk, the national director for Scotland at the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Jamie Ballantyne, social regeneration manager at Queens Cross Housing Association, share insights on community engagement, the impact of digital connectivity, and the significance of small gestures in building trust and cohesion within neighbourhoods.The conversation emphasises the need for investment in social housing and the potential for positive change through community-driven initiatives.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Scottish Housing Day02:49 The Importance of Neighbourliness05:33 Community Engagement and Regeneration Projects08:25 Building Trust and Connections11:08 Addressing Anti-Social Behaviour13:49 The Role of Housing Associations16:28 Celebrating Community Initiatives19:34 The Impact of Social Isolation22:19 Measuring Success in Community Work25:03 Challenges and Opportunities for Housing Associations28:04 Fostering Pride in Communities30:54 Conclusion and Neighbourly GesturesFurther reading:Scottish Housing Day report: https://www.cih.org/publications/scottish-housing-day-report-everybody-needs-good-neighbours/ Queens Cross Housing Association Social Regeneration Impact Report: 2024/25: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/SR%20Impact%20Report%20and%20cover%20202425%20Final%20Draft%20V3.pdf Cedar mural design: https://www.qcha.org.uk/news/484-over-200-local-children-help-with-cedar-mural-designA transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/scottish-housing-day-celebrating-good-neighbours-podcast-transcriptJimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: 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://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/⁠https://x.com/ScotHousingNewshttps://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnewshttps://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTdhttps://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/

74 - Tenancy sustainment with Maureen Knight and Pamela Forrest

In this episode, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black discuss the pressing issue of homelessness with Maureen Knight from Albyn Housing Society and Pamela Forrest from Riverside Scotland.They explore innovative strategies to prevent homelessness, focusing on proactive tenancy sustainment and the Housing First for Families initiative. The conversation highlights the unique challenges faced in different regions, the importance of community support, and the need for sustained funding from policymakers to effectively address housing issues. Success stories from both organisations illustrate the positive impact of their services on families and individuals in need.Chapters00:00Introduction02:54Highland Housing Challenge07:38Housing First for Families initiative13:42Proactive tenancy sustainment services17:53Community benefits and Tenant Support Fund19:44Expansion of Housing First in Dumfries and Galloway22:04Support systems for homeless families27:10Common challenges in remote communities30:24The role of policymakers in housing solutions35:17Success stories: Transforming lives through supportA transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/tenancy-sustainment-podcast-transcriptJimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here:  https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-avoiding-arrears-voids-relets-and-failureKieran 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/ScotHousingNewshttps://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnewshttps://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTdhttps://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/

73 - ‘What’s Next For Adaptations?’ with Professor Vikki McCall and Susie Fitton

Join hosts Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black as they delve into the complexities of housing adaptations in Scotland. Featuring insights from Professor Vikki McCall from the University of Stirling and SFHA policy manager Susie Fitton, this episode explores the challenges and opportunities in adapting homes for an ageing population.Discover findings from the ‘What’s Next For Adaptations?’ report, the latest research from ISPA and the University of Stirling which has been commissioned by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), the Chartered Institute for Housing Scotland (CIH Scotland) and the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO).Highlighting the urgent need for policy reform to support independent living and future-proof housing stock, the episode also explores the importance of timely and appropriate adaptations, challenges in the current adaptation system, the role of housing associations and local authorities, and the impact of adaptations on health and social care.Resources:‘What’s next for adaptations?’ full report - https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/SFHA%20-%20ISPA%20What%27s%20Next%20for%20Adaptations%20-%20Full.pdf ‘What’s next for adaptations?’ executive summary - https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/SFHA%20-%20ISPA%20What%27s%20Next%20for%20Adaptations%20-%20Summary%20DIGITAL.pdf ‘Road to 2026: Homes Fit for the Future’ report - https://www.sfha.co.uk/sites/default/files/2025-07/PDF%20-%20Road%20to%202026%2C%20Homes%20Fit%20for%20the%20Future.pdfDon't forget to subscribe and share the podcast. Visit our website for more insights and resources.A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/whats-next-for-adaptations-podcast-transcriptJimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-adapt-and-thriveKieran 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/ScotHousingNewshttps://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnewshttps://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTdhttps://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/

72 - Cohousing and the Orkney pathfinder with Tom Morton and Jenny Rambridge

Host Kieran Findlay delves into the world of cohousing with guests Tom Morton, convener of Cohousing Scotland, and Jenny Rambridge, a founding member of Hope Cohousing. Discover how cohousing fosters supportive communities, addresses housing challenges, and promotes sustainability, but also hear about the challenges and barriers in implementing the model in Scotland.Explore more about cohousing and join the conversation by visiting Cohousing Scotland's website and engaging with their online community.https://cohousing.scot/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0hUoRAykGtHzsA1Jikeruwhttps://www.facebook.com/cohousingscotlandA transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/cohousing-transcriptKieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News.Feedback on this episode and the podcast is welcome via our social media channels:⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/28156734/⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ScotHousingNews⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnews⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTd⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/scottishhousingnews.com⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews⁠ Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/

71 - Damp, mould and tenant behaviour with Kerry Brown and Patrick McRedmond

For this episode of the Scottish Housing News Podcast, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black discuss the pressing issues of damp and mould in housing, focusing on the new Awaab’s Law legislation that mandates social landlords to address health hazards within strict timelines. Kerry Brown, co-founder and director of Alator Data Services, and Patrick McRedmond, the company’s technical product support manager, believe that not all RSLs are ready for the change.With backgrounds in housing, compliance, and environmental monitoring, they bring a unique perspective to this field and raise an important question: if the problem is now clearly the landlord’s to solve, is it still possible — and appropriate — to talk about tenant behaviour?A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/damp-mould-and-tenant-behaviour-podcast-transcriptJimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-data-beats-dampKieran 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/ScotHousingNewshttps://www.instagram.com/scottishhousingnewshttps://open.spotify.com/show/5ywXRXl40cxozNrBpReSTdhttps://bsky.app/profile/scottishhousingnews.comhttps://www.facebook.com/ScotHousingNews Read all our news and sign up for our free daily newsletter at ⁠https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/