From Thursday, 07 November 2013 - 10:00
To Friday, 08 November 2013 - 14:30
Location : Cameron HouseHotel
Contact : Fiona Murray

Held annually the Scottish Rural and Islands Housing Conference (formerly RIHAF Conference) will cover a range of topical issues concerning rural housing in Scotland and this years conference will take place on 7th and 8th November 2013.

The conference aims to update and inform delegates of the changes and initiatives that are taking place, and to provide an opportunity for frank and open debate.

This years conference is being hosted by Argyll Community Housing Association and will be held at Cameron House,Loch Lomond. Located on the banks of Loch Lomond the hotel is perfectly located within Scotland's first national park and is just over 40 minutes traveling from Glasgow. The hotel offers a good range of conference rooms with contemporary and comfortable accommodation and an excellent range of leisure facilities.

We are delighted that once again we have been able to offer a price freeze on full residential places at the conference, at a discounted conference rate for RIHAF and SFHA Members of £390 per person, which includes accommodation on Thursday 7 November.

Accommodation is also available the night before the conference, Wednesday 6 November for the cost of £140.00 bed and breakfast. On the Wednesday night RIHAF are offering a subsidised rate of £100.00 bed and breakfast for one person per organisation. To receive this discount, please email the SFHA Events Team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  including the name of the booked delegate as this discount is not available when booking online.

A full programme will be available shortly but delegate places can now be booked via the SFHA website.

The conference will be of interest to anyone with an interest in rural housing issues, including staff and committee members from housing providers.

From Monday, 28 October 2013 - 10:00
To Tuesday, 29 October 2013 - 14:00

The SFHA Property Maintenance and Asset Management Conference and Exhibition will be held on 28 & 29 October 2013 at the Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee.

The housing association movement operates within a constantly changing environment and every year there are fresh challenges to be met. This conference will give delegates the tools and information to deal with these changes in addition to the opportunity to get together with like-minded people.

As THE main repairs and maintenance event in Scotland, the conference will concentrate on the most up to date issues for maintenance staff and endeavour to inform, update and challenge delegates.

If you are involved in property maintenance then this is the only conference for you!

The conference is also host to one of the largest housing exhibitions in the UK. For further information on exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Robert Aitken or Phil Campbell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

From Tuesday, 12 November 2013 - 10:30
To Wednesday, 13 November 2013 - 14:00
Location : Crieff Hydro Hotel
Contact : karen Devin

The SFHA Finance Conference 2013, will take place on 12 and 13 November 2013 at Crieff Hydro Hotel.

Further information and booking forms will be available in 2013, however, please email the SFHA Events Team should you wish to register an interest now.

For details on exhibiting at the conference or for sponsorship opprtunities, please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The introduction of Universal Credit will make a sea change in how landlords need to approach the issue of helping tenants to develop both financial capability and digital capability.

Whilst the DWP have softened their stance on "Digital by default" the fact remains helping tenants to become digitally empowered is in landlords and tenants best interests.

To help landlords prepare for these changes, the SFHA is holding a double header of two half day conferences on Financial Inclusion andDigital Inclusion taking place on the same day.

Financial Inclusion – 9.45am - 12.30pm

It will be predominantly the communities that housing associations serve which will feel the effects of the upcoming Welfare reforms with these tenants more likely than other households to be financially excluded. Landlords will now need to help their tenants get ready for the changes that Universal Credit will bring, including setting up a bank account, budgeting for a monthly payment instead of a weekly payment and paying housing costs themselves.

This conference will provide a unique opportunity to hear from leading practitioners and decision makers about how financial inclusion can be achieved in the current climate and will bring together key stakeholders with the aim of developing an integrated approach to financial inclusion.

Conference attendance will include breakfast rolls on arrival as well as refreshments and conference materials.

Digital Inclusion 1.15pm – 4.40pm

Digital Exclusion levels are a serious issue with estimates that over 70% of social renters in the UK are not online. Whether through problems of access, fears about safety or lack of confidence and skills expectations will placed upon landlords to assist with applications. How will organisations manage this and the additional costs it will inevitably incur?

This half day event will hear from speakers addressing these issues and will highlight projects across the country which will seek to tackle digital exclusion.

The conference will include a light lunch on arrival and refreshments.

The conference is aimed not only at social housing providers but also social inclusion policy makers and practitioners who stand to gain from engaging housing associations.

You can opt to attend the whole day or one of the half-days. The cost for each half day event is from £99.00 for or if you wish to attend both special rates from £175.00 are being offered.