Hjaltland Housing Association 50th Anniversary

From Unst to Sumburgh, and Whalsay and Sandness, Hjaltland delivers high-quality social housing across Shetland. With over 885 homes in various schemes, we play a vital role in supporting local communities by ensuring access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. Today, we continue to grow, focusing on quality, community, and wellbeing.

1975 to 1985

Our story began in 1975 to meet the urgent housing needs of oil workers. A strategic merger with Scottish Airports Ltd in 1980 expanded our reach and resources.

Between 1985 and 1997

Hjaltland Housing Association worked to provide more affordable housing across Shetland. The organisation focused on supporting the local community, enhancing housing management practices, and ensuring that tenants had a voice. During this period, Hjaltland adapted to evolving housing regulations and strengthened its organisational capacity. These formative years were instrumental in establishing Hjaltland as a trusted, community-oriented housing provider, laying the groundwork for the continued progress observed today.

Between 1998 and 2006

Hjaltland Housing Association experienced significant growth and service improvements across Shetland. Key developments included expanding housing stock, introducing new systems for lettings and maintenance, investing in staff capacity, and relocating to improved office spaces. The association adopted a tenant-centered approach, engaging tenants through focus groups and feedback mechanisms. Community initiatives such as the One Stop Shop and Care and Repair programs were launched to address evolving needs. Throughout this period, Hjaltland remained committed to building strong communities and providing quality housing for all.

Between 2007 and 2010

Hjaltland continued to grow—adding more homes and deepening our connection with communities across Shetland. During this period, we focused on delivering high-quality, affordable homes, responding to local housing needs, enhancing tenant engagement, and improving services with a focus on sustainability. This period marked steady development and laid the foundation for future growth and recognition in housing excellence, ensuring that our efforts were both impactful and long-lasting.

The 2010s: A Decade of Progress

In the 2010s, Hjaltland embraced innovation and modernisation:

• Introduced Choice Based Lettings to give tenants more control
• Enhanced digital services for easier access and communication
• Earned awards for innovative housing design
• Established a dedicated Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) team to ensure high-quality maintenance and repairs.

The awards received by Hjaltland Housing Association for Grödians and Da Vadill reflect our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and community wellbeing across Shetland. We are immensely proud to create homes that tenants love and that consistently earn recognition for excellence. These accolades underscore our dedication to enhancing the living standards and overall satisfaction of our residents, showcasing our role as a leading
force in housing development.

Over the years, Hjaltland Housing Association has grown and invested in Shetland’s future by developing new homes, enhancing services, and supporting communities across the isles. From Sumburgh to Unst, we have delivered high-quality, affordable housing, improved maintenance standards, and tenant support. Our team ensured homes were safe, energy-efficient, and welcoming, reflecting our commitment to quality, care, and community wellbeing.

Looking forward

As we celebrate 50 years of delivering quality homes across Shetland, Hjaltland Housing Association is looking firmly to the future. Our vision remains strong: Providing homes. Supporting communities.

Over the next five decades, we will continue to build and maintain high-quality, affordable homes that meet the changing needs of our tenants. We will support sustainable communities through energy-efficient design and net-zero targets. Listening to tenants and involving them in shaping services that matter is a priority. We will invest in innovation, ensuring our homes and services are fit for the future. We aim to grow responsibly, maintaining financial strength while expanding our reach across Shetland. With new developments like the major project at Staneyhill already underway, we are aiming to deliver 300 new homes, we are committed to meeting demand and improving lives - today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

We want our tenants to live in modern, affordable, energy-efficient homes. We want to provide homes that meet people’s needs in the long term – whether they are just starting out, raising a family, or enjoying a long and peaceful retirement.

Our charitable purpose has always been to provide homes for those that cannot otherwise afford one, and this will not change. We remain committed to providing social rented homes, but demand for these homes often means a lack of choice and little opportunity for people to move as their needs change. We will look to balance the needs of existing and future customers and are committed to providing as many new homes as possible.

We appreciate the scale of the challenges we face, from retrofitting our existing homes to becoming more energy efficient, to building the right homes in the right places for communities across Shetland.

“We relish the prospect of continuing to do our utmost for people in communities throughout the isles in the next 50 years.” - Bryan Leask Hjaltland CEO