Grampian Housing Association has appointed HBJ Gateley to its legal framework, as the law firm continues to grow in the Aberdeen market.
Partners Heather Pearson (above left), head of HBJ Gateley’s social housing team, and Susan McDonald (above right) will be the lead contacts for Grampian. Both partners serve on the boards of housing associations; Heather as vice-chair of Trust Housing Association and Susan as chair of Ore Housing Association in Fife.
The appointment comes as Grampian Housing Association celebrates its 40th anniversary and completes its 3,000th property provided for social rent.
HBJ Gateley already acts for a number of other RSLs in Scotland, and advises on all aspects of social housing business including housing management, finance, regulatory compliance, litigation and property.
Heather said: “Grampian Housing Association is a great addition to our client roster in Aberdeen, and we’re very pleased to have had the opportunity to act on its behalf already.
“Grampian has a long and successful history and a track record of putting its tenants first, so for us it exemplifies the model for social and affordable housing. We’re looking forward to developing our relationship with Grampian in future and helping it to serve the interests of tenants in the North-east.”
Malcolm McNeil, Director of Corporate Services, Grampian Housing Association, said: “We are delighted to welcome HBJ Gateley to our new framework agreement. This saw the successful appointment of four firms in respect of legal services, and we were very impressed with the calibre of submissions.
“We look forward to working with the team at HBJ Gateley along with our other partners as we work to address the legal requirements of the business.”
Established in 1975, Grampian Housing Association is now the largest housing association based in the North-east of Scotland. With a focus on creating sustainable communities, the Association offers a range of tenure types to complement its core provision of social housing including mid-market (affordable) and market rent as well as low cost home ownership. Support services are also well-established to help tenants sustain their homes.
Heather added: “Social housing providers have a very complex job and a multitude of challenges to overcome. Not only do they have to successfully communicate with multiple stakeholders, but they operate within a very tight regulatory environment.
“The right legal partner is an important element of navigating all of that, and we hope our experience and knowledge in the sector will lead to a long and fruitful relationship between Grampian and HBJ Gateley.”