RIHAF Chair, Di Alexander, Ronnie MacRae of the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust and Susan Torrance from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations met recently with Land Reform Review Group Chair and Vice-Chair, Dr. Alison Elliot and Dr. Sarah Skerrat, to discuss the critical, strategic importance of affordable land for housing in the wider considerations of land reform.



Di Alexander said:

"We were very well received and had a really positive and constructive dialogue. We shall look forward with great interest to the Land Reform Review Group's findings and recommendations."

The five star Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond has been confirmed as the venue for RIHAF's 2013 Annual Conference. The event will take place on 7th and 8th November and will be hosted by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The main conference sponsor is Solas Scotland.



The conference will offer delegates a relevant and challenging programme which will look at current issues affecting rural housing. On Thursday 7th November RIHAF will hold its Annual General Meeting and in the evening there will be a drinks reception, gala dinner and entertainment. There will also be a special programme of events on Wednesday 6th November with a coach tour and Forum meeting.

The Forum is delighted that once again it has been able to offer a price freeze on full residential places at the conference, at a discounted conference rate for RIHAF members of £390 per person, which includes accommodation on Thursday 7th November.

Accommodation is also available the night before the conference, Wednesday 6th November, for the cost of £140.00 bed and breakfast. On Wednesday night RIHAF is offering a subsidised rate of £100.00 bed and breakfast for one person per RIHAF member 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.

RIHAF members are being encouraged by the SFHA to provide evidence to show the disproportionate impact of the Scottish Government's subsidy cuts on rural housing associations' ability to deliver new and affordable housing opportunities where they were most needed. The evidence will be used by the Federation as it further develops its Keeping Our Homes Affordable campaign.



Please contact Susan Torrance, SFHA Policy Manager, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  with any case study examples.

The SFHA recently commissioned Murja Ltd to create a financial modelling tool in conjunction with its report Long Term Funding Options for Housing Associations and Co-operatives. The tool enables finance and development staff to evaluate various finance routes for developments, to help make decisions about the most prudent source of private funding to follow for their businesses.

The Finance Modelling Tool is available on the SFHA website

At the Forum's meeting in January 2013, there was significant discussion about the likely impact of the various aspects of welfare reform on rural communities and on rural housing organisations.

RIHAF is seeking examples of impacts and approaches to managing welfare reform, particularly where there is a rural aspect that could be used by RIHAF to highlight to others or to press for change.

East Lothian Housing Association (ELHA) has developed an "Assistance Scheme", which includes writing off arrears relating to the Underoccupancy Charge in certain circumstances. Its Management Committee has agreed the following definitions for consideration of the write off of rent arrears caused through the imposition of the Underoccupancy Charge:

"Standard Grounds"

1. Any circumstance where the collection of rent due would be inconsistent with the association's Allocations Policy, because if the tenant were to apply to ELHA for smaller housing, that application would be refused, because that household would be considered by the association to require, as minimum, the size of property they are currently living in; and
2. Any household where the total gross weekly income is below £75 per week (where the household is also registered with ELHA's Homehunt East Lothian service).

"Discretionary Grounds"

1. Any circumstance where ELHA considers that the household is making "Best Use" of the property for reasons other than simply use of the bedrooms (for example through use of adaptations the property has), and where any request to move to smaller accommodation would either be refused, or simply impractical since there is no, or virtually no supply of suitable alternative properties within the association's stock.
2. Any circumstances where the association considers that, because of the relative ages and/or sexes of children, taking into account the availability of other suitable accommodation, and any factors such as future exemption from Underoccupany Charge as children's ages change, the household is as appropriately housed as it can be, and to try to move the family would not be in ELHA's best interests.

In all cases, before ELHA would consider writing off any arrears, the tenant would have to have applied unsuccessfully for Discretionary Housing Benefit and met other basic qualifying criteria. In no way does the approach create any entitlement to have the Charge written off by the association, and is subject to review at any time, but ELHA's aim is to help all of its tenants who are affected by the introduction of the Charge and who fall into any of the definitions covered by its Standard and Discretionary Grounds.

Further rural examples would be welcomed - please send these to Regina Serpa, SFHA Reasearch and Information Officer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In February Regina compiled a special report regarding rural housing associations and their preparations for welfare reform.

The report can be accessed on the SFHA website

The start of the new financial year has seen the establishment of a new in-house repairs service by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA).

The association has established a subsidiary company, Argyll Homes For All (AHFA) to carry out day to day repairs, cyclical maintenance and servicing within the landlord's 5,100 homes across Argyll and Bute.

Argyll Homes for All (AHFA) has been given a three year contract to deliver these services on behalf of the association to its tenants. The new subsidiary will have staff and tradesmen located throughout Argyll and Bute, providing services in jointly branded vehicles.

Alastair MacGregor, Chief Executive of ACHA commented:

"After a year in the making, I am pleased that Argyll Homes for All is now up and running and providing a range of repairs and maintenance services under contract to the association. I hope that our tenants will get an excellent service and good value for money in the arrangements."

He added:

"This is a very exciting time in the association's development and I hope our new repairs subsidiary will rise to the task and be able to expand its services both to ACHA and others over the next few years."

Argyll Homes for All (AHFA) has appointed John Forbes as its Managing Director. He commented:

"I believe there are tremendous opportunities available to Argyll Homes for All under this agreement. We look forward to delivering an excellent service and developing strong relationships with Argyll Community Housing Association over the coming months and years. We aim to broaden the services currently offered and in time roll out our activities to a wider audience."

RIHAF members can send press releases for inclusion in the SFHA's daily e-newsletter Housing Scotland Today and magazine, Housing Scotland to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Pictured: Alastair MacGregor, Chief Executive, ACHA and John Forbes, Managing Director, AHFA along with some of the new maintenance team.

Martin Pollhammer gave his Treasurer's report at the RIHAF meeting on Tuesday 30th April at Cairn Housing Association's office, Edinburgh.

The current balance of the Forum's bank account as at 19th April 2013 is £21,965.93.

Since the annual accounts were prepared to 31st August 2012, income has been £33,675.00 (£5,425.00 in subscriptions, £5,750 in conference sponsorship and £22,500 towards MIS research). Interest is no longer paid on the RIHAF bank account.

Expenditure was £39,508.01 (£465.81on travel, £1,507.20 on the RIHAF newsletter, £2,535.00 on meeting expenses and £35,000.00 on MIS Research).

RIHAF is pleased to welcome Waverley Housing, from the Scottish Borders, to the Forum. This brings the number of full members up to 28 organisations.

20th August 2013: 11:00am at Cairn Housing Association, 30 Waterloo Place, Inverness IV1 1NB