Our History

At the start of the 1970s the Victorian sandstone buildings of Govanhill were in a sorry state. There was no hot water, inside toilets or baths. There was dry rot and structural problems in blackened tenement buildings that were often separated by ugly gap sites. In other areas of Glasgow similar tenements were bulldozed, and communities were moved to estates on the fringes of the city.

A group of residents were determined that this would not happen in Govanhill, and this led to the formation of Govanhill Housing Association

The local authority acquired powers to declare Housing Action Areas for Improvement, and grants became available to buy and refurbish tenement housing. Frustrated with slum housing, residents set up Govanhill Housing Association and got funding from Glasgow Corporation to redevelop three homes on Langside Road.

Govanhill Housing Association appointed its first staff member and opened its first office in Butterbiggins Road.

The 1980s saw the introduction of the UK Government's ‘right to buy’ policy which would eventually lead to a massive reduction in the availability of social housing in Scotland. Despite this the 1980s was a period of growth for the Association as it continued to purchase and improve below standard properties in the area

The Association starts developing new homes, and the first new build housing in 60 years are completed on Govanhill Street.

The Association celebrates a significant milestone after purchasing, developing and improving our 1000th home.

During the 1990s the Association began to look towards the wider regeneration of the area, taking a ‘more than just housing’ approach to building neighbourhoods. It was in this decade that the Association formed a subsidiary organisation, the Govanhill Community Development Trust (GCDT), to develop and deliver community and neighbourhood initiatives to match its Housing work.

Govanhill Social Inclusion Project (GOSIP) established to provide outreach services for the Black and Minority Ethnic Community.

Changes in availability of Government funding halted the tenement rehabilitation programme, which is core to the Association’s work. Despite these funding setbacks, the Association continued to expand during this decade, notably with the redevelopment of Samaritan House and the expansion of Govanhill Community Development Trust.

The redevelopment of the Samaritan House Hospital building won a Saltire Award and is the home of Govanhill Housing Association to this day.

In 2008 the Association submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for action to deal with sub-standard private rented housing in the area.

During this decade, the lobbying that began in the 2000s to deal with sub-standard private rented properties proved successful and funding was made available from National and Local Government for a project to target the area of Govanhill (South West Govanhill) most in need of action to alleviate such housing problems.

Bankhall Street residential Care Centre provides supported accommodation for older people with dementia. The Centre wins ‘Best Individual New Build’ in Herald Property Awards.

The Association takes ownership of 700 homes in Govanhill and Merrylee from Glasgow Housing Association (now Wheatly Group) following a successful ballot of tenants.

The Association opens its Welfare Hub at Samaritan House to support residents and tenants impacted by Welfare Reform.

Two-year pilot project with Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to acquire and improve some of the worst tenemental stock in Govanhill is launched. The pilot was so successful it became a mainstream project for a further 6 years.

New build development on the site of the former Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Inglefield Street opened.

The 2020s have presented new challenges for the Association, from supporting tenants with the impact of the covid pandemic, the ongoing impacts of Brexit on local communities and residents and the impact of high inflation for both our tenants and for businesses working with the Association. Despite this, the Association starts the decade in a strong position to tackle the challenges ahead, with a new development on site and plans for retrofitting other tenements to ensure our homes are warm and energy efficient for the future.

Govanhill Housing Association Offices at Samaritan House and Merrylee close due to Covid restrictions. Staff work from home to support tenants through the pandemic.

The South West Govanhill Project concludes with over 400 sub-standard private let properties acquired, refurbished and now available as Social Housing in that area, and more than 80 new tenement blocks benefiting from a factoring service designed to protect the interests of local neighbourhoods.