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Argyll Community
Housing Association

Factoring Services

Argyll Community Housing Association is setting up a Factoring Service for private owners who live in properties which were formerly owned by ACHA or the Local Authority. 

Factoring is a property management service put in place to co-ordinate and carry out work on behalf of property owners.

Factoring is important to tenemental properties to ensure routine maintenance and repairs are carried out as and when they arise along with upgrading works (e.g. painting).  Any properties which have common property or common ground will benefit from factoring as the Association will instruct work and recover costs from private owners, rather than owners having to pay the whole account and recover money from neighbours themselves.

There are just under 6,000 ex right to buy properties and the Association is starting factoring with a number of pilot schemes in various areas of Argyll and Bute and, once they are fully operational, factoring will be rolled out through the whole of Argyll and Bute. 

Argyll Community Housing Association is writing to private owners and inviting them to comment on the factoring proposals.  Owners will then be sent detailed information on factoring fees and charges and the pilot properties will be contacted to discuss factoring for their specific property so that each property and common ground is dealt with on an individual basis before being fully factored.

Norman Beaton, Chair of Argyll Community Housing Association said, “A factoring service for property owners is long overdue as many owners have difficulty in getting agreement from neighbours to carry out repairs and upgrading work which results in work being delayed and costs increasing.  The Association will manage the provision of the service for owners. This is why a factoring service operated and regulated by the Association will greatly benefit home owners.”

More information is available on our Factoring page.

Sheltered Housing Services Update

ACHA are currently consulting staff and tenants by holding meetings on how we can continue with a viable sheltered housing service.  On 4 July we held a full staff consultation. Tenant consultation meetings are being held for each complex this month. All residents in the 11 complexes where we have warden cover have been invited and special arrangements are in place where residents have difficulty attending. As with any change the reaction so far has been mixed.

ACHA’s Board will take into consideration the views expressed and the viability of the continuing service before making a final decision in August.

A further statement will be made after our August 14 Board Meeting.

Ceol Mor (Big Music) Challenge - Sponsored Hand Sheep Shear

Alastair MacGregor, the Chief Executive of ACHA, swapped the suit for a set of sheep shears to clip 50 sheep in one session. Raising funds for the tuition of Piobaireachd among young pipers in Argyll and Bute.  The event took place on Saturday 21st June at Ardconnel Farm, Connel. Alastair provides a personal message below.

Despite not the greatest weather forecast in the world I decided to go for it at 7.05 am on Saturday morning, 5 hours later 50 sheep were shorn, my right arm felt like it was in a vice and I was going about like the hunchback of Notre Dame. A few thanks are more than due. To Duncan and Ian for catching them and throwing them out when I’d clipped each one, to my Dad for keeping the shears sharp, to Mum for the tea and rolls and sausage, to Ewan, Jamie and Rachel for rolling the fleeces, to Kate for the patience shown over the last month of fundraising, and for the surprise present of the shepherd’s crook at the end and to Councillor Roddy McCuish for the continuing messages of support on Oban FM to keep the momentum going. I took the borderline jokes, Roddy, with the greatest of aplomb. My last thanks are to all of you, the people and businesses of Argyll and Bute and beyond. Through your sponsorship, by this morning, we have raised £4,010 which will go to piping tuition for our young people. I am totally overwhelmed by the support, generosity and help given in this endeavour. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that something that started as a bit of a joke over a few drams 6 weeks ago would catch the imagination in the way it did. If you have taken the pledge but not sent your money in could you make the cheque payable to the Ceol Mor Challenge and post it to the Municipal Buildings, Albany Street, Oban. Thank you again and I look forward to keeping you up to date on the progress that your generosity will make possible in the development of piping talent for children in Argyll and Bute. If anyone has any spare Ralgex just send it to me, I think it will come in handy over the next few weeks. Slainte Alastair

Get involved

Are you interested in:

• Improving the quality of housing services in Argyll and Bute
• Helping to plan new housing investment
• Having more say in how your housing is managed
• Seeing new services for older people, young people and children

If yes, Argyll Community Housing Association is looking for interested, committed individuals to join Mid Argyll and Kintyre Area Committee.

The Committee meets every 2nd month – on average 6 times a year.  Training will be given to help members play a full role.

Committee membership is voluntary and unpaid, but expenses covering travel, subsistence and care costs are paid.

You can email for more details about Mid Argyll's committee by clicking here. Or you can call Yvonne Litster, Housing & Neighbourhood Services Manager on 01546 604800.

An area committee operates in each of our four operational areas. You can email for more information on these committees by clicking on the links below.

Oban, Lorn and the Isles - including this includes Gigha, Islay, Coll, Tiree, Mull, Iona, Jura, Seil, Luing and Colonsay.

Cowal and Bute

Helensburgh and Lomond

Nomination forms are being sent to all ACHA members prior to Septembers' AGMs. For details of how to become a member click here.

Relief in Saddell at last

Residents of Miller Park, Saddell will benefit from the recently completed flood relief project designed to intercept surface run off from the high ground to the west of the properties.

For years the garden and street areas were susceptible to flooding during period of intensive wet weather when the ground was unable to absorb the surface water. This also resulted in flooding to the public highway.

Argyll Community Housing Association working in association with local Councillor Rory Colville, Argyll and Bute Council Roads, Scottish Water and local farmer Terrance Glen co-ordinated the design, procurement and installation of the required works to provide the flood relief system. It provides an example and benefit of what can be achieved through multi agency team working.

New hope for ACHA wardens

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has welcomed comments by Argyll and Bute Councillors supporting the continuation of sheltered housing warden services.

ACHA’s Chair, Norman Beaton has written to Council Leader Dick Walsh welcoming the mutual cooperation that has been expressed to finding a way forward.  He has confirmed ACHA’s commitment to arranging a meeting with officers of each organisation, possibly including ACHA Board members and key councillors.

ACHA had been invited to meet with local residents and their families at one of the sheltered housing complexes to discuss concerns over the future of the warden service.  At the meeting, residents and their families stressed how important the service is to them and local councillors supported continuation of the service.

The meeting in Rothesay was attended by three Bute councillors, an ACHA representative, local residents and families, and MP Alan Reid. 

An ACHA spokesperson said, “We understand a Council meeting last week was very positive in that it built further on the stated willingness to work together to find solutions between ACHA and the Council regarding the warden service.We understand that there was a re-affirmation of a need for continuing dialogue following the meetings to work up the detail of any proposals, which the Association will be taking forward with their counterparts in the Council.”

Why Not Become a Member of ACHA?

Life Membership costs just £1

And will entitle you to vote on major issues affecting the Association and receive a copy of the Association’s Annual Report

Membership is open to:

• Tenants of the Association
• Other residents of Argyll & Bute (18 years and over)
• Other persons who can contribute particular community, business or professional experience or skills relevant to the Association (18 years and over)

How Do You Join?

Complete and return the application form along with your £1 membership fee.
The application form is available in PDF format by clicking here.

Argyll Community Housing Association is responsible for approximately 5300 former Argyll & Bute Council homes. The transfer of this stock took place on 21st November 2006. The Association is responsible for the letting and maintenance of these properties, along with the programme of new build aimed at providing quality, affordable rented housing across around 7000 square kilometers of urban, rural and island communities. The Association also undertakes community development work and seek to enhance local economic development. The Association is independently run by a Board of Management, supported by four Area Committees and is regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator. As Scotland’s eighth largest housing association, ACHA houses 17% of the population of Argyll and Bute and employs 185 staff. About Us!