What's on at the Scotland Housing Festival?

The Scotland Housing Festival is an essential event for anyone with an interest in the Scottish housing sector. There’s an impressive amount of sessions packed into two days, covering topics from housing safety, technology advancements, becoming more ethical as a sector, and so much more. We only discuss a snapshot of the sessions below, so be sure to look at the full programme so you don’t miss out! 

Major sector updates 

It wouldn’t be a Scotland Housing Festival without some coverage of the major changes in the country that affect housing. These sessions are likely going to be packed, so get a seat early to avoid disappointment. 

As we approach two years since a housing emergency was declared, it’s important that we reflect on the changes that have been made, and on the changes yet to come. The first keynote of the festival ‘The Housing Emergency: In Conversation’ will cover the topic in detail, delving into how we can improve the sector together. If you’re unable to make that, the breakout discussion on ‘How to Build in a Broken System’ might be interesting for you. The amount of social and affordable housing in Scotland is declining, and you’ll get the chance to discuss potential solutions. 

The fringe session ‘Rebuilding Trust and Transforming Service Delivery’ will go over The Housing Act (Scotland) 2025 and what we can learn from the English sector in preparation for it. It’s important to look to the future and to follow the example of success stories where we can. The keynote ‘The Whole Rented Sector: Is Housing Still Relevant?’ also discusses The Housing Act (Scotland) but asks whether it affects the relevancy of Scotland’s Housing to 2040 strategy. 

Peter Apps’ keynote address about the legacy of the Grenfell Tower Fire titled ‘Show Me the Bodies’ is not one to be missed. It’s an important listen as it gives us a chance to reflect on our own practices and the safety measures we oversee. Everyone deserves a home that is safe and free from danger. 

It's always good to be prepared, so why not get ahead on the next election with our Breakfast Briefing at the beginning of the second day of the festival? You’ll hear from Liberal Democrat, Reform, and Labour MPs on their plans for housing, helping you make an informed voting choice when the time comes. 

Finally, while not a specific sector update, the fringe session on Culture and Leadership focusses on how we can improve the Scottish social housing sector by understanding our leadership needs and goals. Hear from Indigo House on what needs to change, and how they think we should do it. 

Housing and safety 

One of the most important aspects of working in housing is making sure that the homes you work on are safe. Everyone deserves somewhere to live where they feel comfortable and secure. 

In one of the standout sessions of the festival, Gail Porter will discuss being a Fair for You ambassador and how families can find help when they are running out of money. Having the finances to live somewhere safe is a struggle for a rising number of people in Scotland and we must do what we can to support them. 

People coming out of the prison system can often feel unsupported when trying to find housing, especially if they have been released early. In the ‘Breaking the Cycle: Safe Housing on Release for Everyone’ breakout session, you’ll hear from the head of policy and engagement, safeguarding communities, and reducing offending at SACRO about how we can support offenders so they are able to live fulfilling lives in safe homes when they re-enter society. 

While regulation is an important part of creating safe homes, it can sometimes feel unnecessary or hard to properly fulfil. The fringe session: ‘Regulation: How Much is Too Much?’ will discuss getting the balance right and where the line should be drawn. 

Advancing technology

Technology is constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up, especially with your busy day job! Our sessions on the latest developments will shed light on some complex topics and might even boost your resolve to try something different with the tech you use in your work.  

If it’s a general discussion about changing technology you’re after, the breakout session ‘Utilising New Technology for Adaptions’ is perfect. Unpack the possibilities that come with a constantly developing sector and discover how best to support independent living. 

AI is a hot topic at the moment and more housing organisations are jumping on the bandwagon and using it to improve their services. An AI expert and the chief executives of several housing associations will share their knowledge with you in the session: ‘The Future Is Now: New Technology Improving Services’. You’ll come away feeling excited about implementing AI strategies into your own work, helping you be more efficient where it matters most. If you’re looking for something more hands-on, we’re also offering a workshop session called ‘Draft your AI Housing Management Strategy’ for practitioners who want to update their way of working by using technology. 

Anyone will benefit from the fringe session: ‘Data and Digital Transformation in Compliance’. Compliance is something we all have to keep on top of, and we’ll cover how to store and collect data while keeping your clients’ best interests at heart. 

A more ethical sector 

As housing professionals, we must strive to build a better sector that benefits everyone. We’ll cover the improvements you might be looking to make in your own work and how you can always aim for the best practices — whatever your role. 

The Social Housing Net Zero Standard will be discussed during the breakout session of the same name. Even though the regulations come into effect in 2040, it’s important to ensure you understand and plan now so you can help your community become a greener, more eco-friendly one. Another breakout session: ‘Unlocking Private Sector Investment for Net Zero’ will discuss the same topic, but from the angle of trying to secure the financial backing you need to reach your eco targets. 

It's all very well understanding the steps you need to take to build a greener sector, but what are the practicalities of actioning them? The breakout session, ‘Green Skills for All: Empowering Communities for a Sustainable Future’ unpacks the amount of training that needs to happen to give Scotland an eco-friendlier housing sector, and you’ll hopefully come away with some ideas about changes we can all make within our work. 

A different but equally important topic to keep in mind as a housing professional is tackling racism. The breakout session ‘Are we Anti-Racist?’ investigates the way Scotland’s housing sector treats Black people and how this can be improved. Everyone in the sector can make positive change towards being fully anti-racist — starting your journey today means you’ll be a better professional for the future. 

Another group of people who need the sector’s support are the elderly. The keynote ‘International Insight: Housing for An Ageing Population’ looks into how we can provide the right facilities for older members of our community who need them.  

On top of looking after tenants, customers, and even the planet, we must make time to look after ourselves. CIH president Julie Haydon will cover this in detail when sharing her presidential campaign in a session called ‘Rooted in Resilience’. Staying on top of your mental health will allow you to better support others, connect with your loved ones more easily and to achieve greater job satisfaction. 

Tenant support 

Tenants can be some of the most important people in a housing professional’s life. These sessions at the Scotland Housing Festival will help you to support them in the most efficient and understanding way. 

In the breakout session: ‘Tenant Engagement: Striking the Right Balance’, you’ll have the opportunity to debate and discuss with others about where the boundaries lay when supporting tenants. While it’s important to do the best job you can (for example, making sure your repairs service gets it right first time and using relational and reflective practices as discussed below) there are times when you need to give tenants the agency to make their own decisions. 

The use of relational and reflective practices in housing services and ‘Nailing a Right-First-Time Repairs Service’ are discussed in separate breakout sessions at the end of day two, but both cover important elements of tenant support. They’ll help you build trust with whoever you’re working with, and you’ll become a better housing professional overall. 

Being part of a local community can be extremely valuable to tenants, or anyone in need of some company and support. The breakout session, ‘Community as an Asset’ will feature valuable discussion from several community leaders on how they ensured the people in their areas were involved in local change. 

We’d love to see you at the Scottish Housing Festival 2026. As you can see, we’ve got a wealth of knowledge to share and a great many people want to book spaces. Get yours today before they run out.