Events

About this event

With over 46,000 homes vacant for more than 6 months, combined with the national housing emergency declared by the Scottish Government earlier this year and more recently the housing action plan, which sets out key priorities for not only building houses but also restoring them.

Join us this October to hear from leaders who are at the forefront of tackling many of these issues. They’ll share insight about the challenges they have faced and the innovative approaches being used to transform properties into vital homes. You’ll also hear from Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and Homeless Network Scotland about their priorities and how they are supporting social landlords and bringing homes back into use using innovative methods and approaches alongside other pilot projects.

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Why attend?

• Hear directly from influential organisations like the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, Homeless Network Scotland and SFHA to understand the latest policy, vision, and funding models impacting the sector.
• Gain inspiration from award-winning case studies and processes when it comes to acquisition schemes, funding and experiences of tackling empty homes.
• Discover practical, in-depth tips and tricks on managing void properties, minimising rent loss and implementing effective solutions for quick turnarounds
• Understand the journey and experiences of a few public sector organisations that have successfully brought homes back into use
• Engage in various panel discussions with a diverse group of experts covering policy, action, experiences and mitigations

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Event schedule

When and where is it? 

Date: 23rd October 2025

Time: 10am - 2:30pm

Location: 6 Deer Park Avenue, Fairways Business Park, Livingston EH54 8AF

Speakers

Tahmina Nizam, National Manager, Scottish Empty Homes Partnership

Tahmina Nizam is the National Manager at the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP), which is hosted by Shelter Scotland and funded by Scottish Government. With 10 years of experience in housing and homelessness she and her team work with councils and third sector partners looking at how empty houses can become full time homes, contributing to the housing ecosystem and in response to the housing emergency.

Grant Campbell, Head of Partnerships and Consultancy, Homeless Network Scotland

Grant has held a variety of leadership positions with an extensive background of working in partnership across the voluntary and community sector to address homelessness in Scotland. He has spent the past 11 years in senior positions in the Scottish and UK homelessness sector, predominately in service delivery.

Grant is passionate about social justice, in particular tackling inequality, enabling people and communities to thrive.

Barry Sweeney, Head of Acquisitions and Development, Homes For Good

Barry has been a leader at Homes for Good since 2014 and has directly been involved in identifying, buying, renovating, and furnishing over 340 properties. Barry helped develop hands-on options for empty homes owners such as assistance to sell, purchase by Homes for Good, and a pilot rent ready program.

Louis Fordham, Social Innovation Director, Orbis Protect

Dr Cassandra Dove, Policy Lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)

Cassandra is a Policy Lead on Energy and Net Zero at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. Following a postgraduate degree in architectural design, she completed a PhD at the University of Strathclyde which focussed on the development of ecological building materials. She has since worked on various housing-related research projects, including monitoring and evaluating retrofit programmes. Her current role at SFHA involves supporting housing associations in delivering safe, warm and affordable homes.

Lewis McKenzie, Void Energy Expert and Board Director for Kingdom Housing Association

Karen Allan, Access to Housing and Support Services Lead Officer and John Addison, Empty Homes Officer at City of Edinburgh Council

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