Housing news

• Councillors endorse updated low carbon energy business plan

  Published on 20 Dec 2024

  Councillors have endorsed an updated five-year business plan for Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL), a joint venture between the council and Vattenfall Heat UK (part of Swedish energy company Vattenfall

• Community mural unveiled at site of old Dalkeith High School

  Published on 21 Nov 2024

  Dalkeith High pupils have given Midlothian Council housing, on the site of the former school, “a real sense of soul” thanks to a new mural they worked on with Scottish artist Chris Rutterford.

• First Passivhaus development named after former councillor

  Published on 8 Oct 2024

  Midlothian Council’s first Passivhaus housing development has been formally named David Smith House in honour of the former provost and councillor who died in 2020.

• New Passivhaus extra care facilities in Bonnyrigg

  Published on 6 May 2024

  Work is underway to build a 40-bedroom care complex and 46 extra care flats alongside a day-care unit in Bonnyrigg.

• New Housing Allocation Policy agreed by Council

  Published on 25 Mar 2024

  The council today (26 March) agreed changes to its Housing Allocations Policy, following an extensive consultation process with tenants and other stakeholders earlier this year.

• Council adopts strategy to ensure more affordable housing choices

  Published on 25 Mar 2024

  The council today (26 March) approved the adoption of its Mixed Tenure Strategy for housing in the area.

• Tenants give energy-efficiency improvements top marks

  Published on 5 Feb 2024

  Council tenants Evelyn and Gordon Smart have given us “10 out of 10” for improving their cottage as part of a major programme to bring existing housing stock up to energy-efficiency standards.

• Midlothian Council partners with housing charity to tackle youth homelessness

  Published on 1 Feb 2024

  A joint initiative was launched in Midlothian today (Thursday 01 February 2024) to help young people avoid homelessness. 

• Give your views on how council homes allocated

  Published on 8 Jan 2024

  Midlothian Council has today (Monday 8 January) launched a consultation about how it allocates council houses. 

• Councillors endorse five year plan for energy company

  Published on 21 Dec 2023

  Councillors have endorsed an updated five-year business plan for Midlothian Energy Limited (MEL), a joint venture between the council and Vattenfall Heat UK (part of Swedish energy company Vattenfall,

• Work to start on 90 energy-efficient homes

  Published on 9 Nov 2023

  Midlothian Council’s most ambitious energy-efficient housing development is about to get underway.

• Upgrade of Housing Services database

  Published on 29 Sep 2023

  Essential maintenance and systems upgrades are taking place on the Housing Services database. This maintenance has taken slightly longer than anticipated and will continue until Monday 9 October 2023.

• Significant drop in number of people in temporary accommodation

  Published on 29 Aug 2023

  The number of individuals and families in temporary homes has almost halved in the last five years.

• Passivhaus project brings community benefits

  Published on 30 Jun 2023

  The contractor building Midlothian Council’s first Passivhaus project in Bonnyrigg has donated £2,000 towards Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club’s (CFC) Summer Football Festival.

• First low-carbon heating pipes laid at Shawfair Town

  Published on 16 Jun 2023

  The first pipes to supply the brand new Shawfair Town in Midlothian with low-carbon heating have been installed, with construction on the site now well-underway.

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  First Passivhaus homes near completion

  Published on 10 Apr 2023

  Six new flats in a courtyard behind Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith, part of the most ambitious energy-efficient council housing programme in Scotland, could be welcoming new council tenants by autumn.

• Tenants reminded to keep Universal Credit journal up-to-date

  Published on 5 Apr 2023

  Council tenants are being reminded to update their new rent charge and service charges in their Universal Credit journal.

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  New energy-efficient council flats underway in Bonnyrigg

  Published on 16 Mar 2023

  Work is underway to build 20 new Midlothian Council homes in Bonnyrigg as part of the most ambitious Passivhaus programme in Scotland.

• Councillors approve rent rise

  Published on 22 Feb 2023

  Rents for council homes are to go up by 4.8% from 1 April, the first increase in three years.

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  First veteran family move into council home under new agreement with charity

  Published on 16 Dec 2022

  The first family to qualify for a home thanks to a new partnership between Midlothian Council and the charity Veterans Housing Scotland will move in before Christmas.

• Rent consultation period extended

  Published on 16 Dec 2022

  A consultation on council house rents in Midlothian has been extended until Friday 6 January 2023. The consultation sets out options for rent levels covering the period from April 2023 to March 2026.

• Midlothian Tenant Satisfaction Survey results reveal overall satisfaction

  Published on 14 Dec 2022

  The Midlothian Tenant Satisfaction Survey 2022 has revealed that over 80% of tenants who participated in the survey have overall satisfaction with the housing service.

• Council commits two homes per year for disabled veterans

  Published on 1 Dec 2022

  We're the first housing organisation in Scotland to partner the charity, Veterans Housing Scotland, in support of its new campaign to provide 25 more homes for disabled veterans across the country.

• Council approves rent setting strategy

  Published on 4 Oct 2022

  Midlothian Council today (Tuesday 4 October) approved its Rent Setting Strategy consultation to cover the period from 1 April 2023 to 2025/26.

• Licence for short term lets

  Published on 4 Oct 2022

  All short term lets like Airbnbs in Midlothian will need a licence.

• Council sets target for new homes accessible for people in wheelchairs

  Published on 23 Aug 2022

  Midlothian Council has agreed a target of 20 wheelchair accessible homes to be built in the county annually.

• First council homes with Air Source Heat Pumps finished

  Published on 22 Aug 2022

  Midlothian Council’s first new build homes heated by Air Source Heat Pumps will soon be welcoming their first tenants.

• ‘Fantastic’ new homes and care facilities for Midlothian

  Published on 25 Feb 2022

  Midlothian Council’s £17 million project to build new homes and a care facility on the old Dalkeith High School site is on budget and on track to finish at the end of 2022.

• Council will meet 5 year target of 1,000 new council homes

  Published on 24 Feb 2022

  Midlothian Council is on track to meet its five year target of having 1,000 council homes either built or under construction by the end of March 2022.

• Opportunity for council tenants to swap their home

  Published on 14 Feb 2022

  Are you a council tenant wanting to move to a different size of house or a house in a different location?

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  Midlothian leads way building affordable, energy efficient council homes for future

  Published on 3 Feb 2022

  The most ambitious energy-efficient council housing programme in Scotland is underway in Midlothian.

• Rents deferred for another year

  Published on 14 Dec 2021

  Midlothian Council today approved that proposed annual housing rent increases be deferred for 2022/23.

• Work starts in Midlothian on innovative energy saving homes

  Published on 10 Nov 2021

  Work has started on a prestigious new build housing development in Dalkeith town centre. This is Midlothian Council’s first ‘Passivhaus’ housing project.

• More than 100 new, affordable council homes to help those in need

  Published on 29 Oct 2021

  Midlothian Council is continuing to progress with its innovative new build housing programme which is funded through the Housing Revenue Capital Account. 

• First of five Afghan families coming in October

  Published on 30 Sep 2021

  Midlothian Council is preparing to welcome five Afghan families, with the first family due to arrive at the end of October.

• Council five year housing strategy approved

  Published on 26 May 2021

  The Midlothian Local Housing Strategy 2021-26 has been approved and is now accessible to the public online.

• Midlothian Council defers rent increase

  Published on 24 Feb 2021

  Midlothian Council has decided to defer a planned rents increase for council tenants. This decision was made taking into account the impact of the Covid -19 pandemic on households in the area and the expected recession.

Sub-categories of Housing

• Council housing
• Tenancy
• Rent and payments
• Homeless or at risk
• Private housing
• Housing advice
• Housing strategy and performance

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