Our History

Southside Housing Association is a registered social landlord providing housing and a range of other services across the southside of Glasgow. Our decisions are taken by a voluntary controlled Management Committee who are accountable to the membership of the Association, who are mainly tenants of the Association. We are also a registered Scottish charity (Scottish Charity Number SC036009).

We have operated as a social landlord on the south side of Glasgow for over fifty years. Originally established as Pollokshields Housing Association in 1971, our initial work was largely philanthropic in nature. Our early single unit refurbishments were driven by a desire to improve housing standards in the Pollokshields area.

Over the years we have developed and expanded the range of services we provide and the areas we operate in.  

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, assisted by changes in government policy and new statutory powers, the Association embarked on larger projects including whole tenement renovations.

In 1988 the association changed its name to Southside Housing Association (SHA) and embarked on significant restoration works tackling disrepair in older private housing.

During 2011 the association experienced dramatic growth, effectively more than trebling the size of its operation. This involved the purchase of properties from Glasgow Housing Association under the Second Stage Transfer. As a result the association became a major housing provider in Cardonald, Halfway and Craigton, as well as increasing the already significant role in Pollokshields.

In 2005 the association established Southside Factoring and Related Services (SFARS), a wholly owned subsidiary, in order to deliver commercial activities which could not or are not provided by the Association as the charitable parent company.  From 1 April 2024, property factoring management activities have returned to the SHA as the charitable parent and are delivered line with our charitable objects. Our subsidiary has now rebranded as Southside Letting and manages mid-market rental activities on a commercial basis.

SHA remains an active developer of new homes for social rent, mid-market rent and shared equity.  SHA also work in partnership with other housing providers, statutory bodies, community agencies and contractors to provide new homes, sustain tenancies and support economic and social regeneration.