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This year marks a significant milestone for Grampian Housing Association as we celebrate with our tenants and customers, 50 years of providing diverse housing tenure choices and wider community services across the North East of Scotland.

It’s a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

In the midst of what feels like an ongoing housing crisis, Craig Stirrat, CEO asks “is there much to celebrate?” 

 

The housing sector, like many others, is operating in a world gripped by what some are calling a “perma-crisis.” A recent British Social Attitudes Survey found that, given the choice, the majority of people would still prefer to buy a home rather than rent. This reality can seem daunting, but it shouldn’t overshadow the tremendous progress we’ve made.

Let’s not lose hope. The housing sector has faced tough times before, and I’m confident that, like the generations that have come before us, we will continue to fight the good fight for another 50 years.

Rather than succumbing to the pessimistic narrative of “we’re all doomed,” let’s pause and reflect on the resilience and accomplishments of Grampian Housing Association, as well as the wider social housing sector. We’ve made significant strides in providing safe, desirable, and affordable homes, even in the face of the current housing challenges.

History has a way of shaping the present, and as we respond to today’s housing crisis, we must remember that the growth of the Registered Social Landlord sector coincided with a period of political and economic turmoil. Sound familiar? In the 1970s, when the sector was in its infancy, “Crisis? What crisis?” was a slogan that encapsulated the era’s political instability.

Fifty years ago, the housing landscape was vastly different. In the early 1970s, council housing dominated, accounting for over 50% of all homes. At the same time, home ownership began its remarkable rise, a trend that would see owner occupation almost double by 2022. In contrast, council housing has dwindled, now representing just over 10% of all homes.

The 1966 film Cathy Come Home, along with the campaigning of newly established charities like Shelter and Crisis, galvanized public concern about homelessness. This movement led to the creation of many housing associations, including Grampian Housing Association, which was founded in 1975 with the explicit aim of addressing the growing homelessness crisis.

The Housing Act of 1974 was a direct response to the shortage of affordable housing. It provided funding to housing associations and sought to improve existing housing conditions. At this time, nearly 96% of state spending on housing went directly to the construction and renovation of social housing. This was a far cry from today’s Affordable Housing Programme, where a significant portion of funding must be raised from private financial institutions.

In 2022, a report showed that 88% of housing expenditure was directed toward benefits, while only 12% was used to build new homes.

Grampian Housing Association was born during the North Sea oil boom, a period that saw Aberdeen’s economy grow rapidly as it became a hub for the oil industry. This growth, however, led to a housing crisis, as the influx of oil workers strained the city’s housing stock, driving up property prices and making housing unaffordable for many locals. The introduction of Right to Buy legislation in 1980 only exacerbated this issue, reducing Aberdeen’s council housing stock from over 40,000 homes to just 23,000 today.

From the beginning, the housing needs of tenants and customers have been the focus of Grampian Housing Association as it has adopted a collaborative, innovative approach to housing. By offering a range of housing options and related services, we’ve responded to the changing needs of people in the North East of Scotland, for example Grampian:

 

·        delivered the first design-and-build shared ownership development in Scotland;

·        created one of the region’s first balanced communities in Fraserburgh, combining mainstream rented housing with provisions for specific needs;

·        was Aberdeen Foyer’s housing partner when it was first established 30 years ago to end youth homelessness and alleviate the impact of poverty on young people;

·        was notably, one of the first Associations to establish tenancy sustainment services including money advice, housing support and energy advice, now the norm throughout the sector.

Today, Grampian provides homes to over 4,000 households through social rent, more than 300 mid-market rent homes, and over 300 shared ownership properties. In addition, we offer factoring services to over 1,000 households.

As a Registered Social Landlord of systemic importance, Grampian continues to work in partnership with local authorities and developers to deliver affordable, energy-efficient homes, primarily for social rent. Despite the recent downturn in funding, we remain committed to investing in our existing stock to meet current standards and tackle fuel poverty, while creating sustainable, balanced communities.

Our success is not only measured by the number of homes we provide, but also by our commitment to being a great employer. In our recent first award from Best Companies, we received One Star Accreditation, representative of an employer with very good engagement and a reflection of our dedication to creating a positive workplace culture. Additionally, we are proud to be on track to achieve the Customer Excellence Standard later this year, further underscoring our commitment to delivering high quality customer service through The Grampian Deal, customer experience initiative.

Some of my colleagues believe we’ll never see the “golden age” of housing associations that existed from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. They argue that we’re powerless in the face of the current housing crisis. But I disagree.

The people who work for Grampian and other housing associations have never been passive recipients of government policy or funding. The same vision, passion and commitment that established Grampian continue today, even as we navigate increasingly complex regulations and funding challenges.

There is strength in numbers. As proud members of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, we remain committed to advocating for the sector’s relevance and its ability to provide solutions to the housing crisis. Good housing is the cornerstone of economic recovery and overall well-being, and the social housing sector remains integral to addressing the housing challenges of today and the future.

The housing crisis isn’t new, and it isn’t the result of forces beyond our control. While many individuals and families are enduring real hardships due to unsuitable housing, the progress we’ve made over the past 50 years gives us reasons to be hopeful. Failure to recognise this progress risks undermining the credibility of the sector and perpetuating the stigma of social housing as the “tenure of last resort”, a narrative often amplified by the media.

Thankfully, the political environment around housing seems more favourable than it has in recent years.  This now makes it the perfect time to reinvest in social rented housing. I am optimistic that Grampian Housing Association, along with the wider sector, will continue to be relevant in the next 50 years, helping to build a fairer, more prosperous society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.