Estate and external works · Scotland

Estate and external works in the Scottish Borders

The outdoor spaces of estates in the Scottish Borders shape residents' safety and pride in where they live. We improve them in phases, keeping routes open.

We take on estate and external works in the Scottish Borders for housing associations (which own most social homes here) and supported housing providers, managing every trade ourselves and working to the timescales in your order. Most social homes in the Scottish Borders belong to housing associations after the council transferred its stock.

Scottish Borders at a glance

Council: Scottish Borders Council
Nation: Scotland
Council homes: Transferred to housing associations
Housing standard: SHQS (Scotland)
Damp and mould timescales: Scottish 2026 regulations (since 6 Oct 2026)
Population: 115,240 (2020 estimate)
Regional price factor: 0.97 (our estimate)

Council housing status from published stock transfer histories (6 transfer and 26 stock-holding councils), not yet checked against Scottish Government tables. Population: ONS 2020 mid-year estimate.

Who owns the social homes in the Scottish Borders?

Most social homes in the Scottish Borders are owned by housing associations, following the transfer of the council's homes to housing association ownership. It is one of six Scottish councils that transferred their housing. Scottish Borders Council remains the strategic housing authority, with duties on homelessness and housing need.

What do we cover in the Scottish Borders?

Paths, paving and dropped kerbs
Bin stores and cycle stores
Parking areas and surfacing
Surface water drainage and gullies
Soft landscaping and planting

Estate and external works in a social home

How do we deliver it?

Where we see trip hazards, broken lighting or damaged fencing outside our scope, we report it to you.

Which rules apply in the Scottish Borders?

Social landlords are commercial clients under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, so the full client duties apply. Where there is more than one contractor, the client appoints a principal designer and a principal contractor.

SHQS (Scotland) · More about estate and external works

What do estate and external works cost in the Scottish Borders?

We price estate and external works in the Scottish Borders after a survey rather than from a guide range, because areas, levels, drainage and materials vary from scheme to scheme. Send us the details and we will arrange a visit.

Questions about estate and external works in the Scottish Borders

Does Scottish Borders Council still own council homes?

Can you take on estate and external works in the Scottish Borders as a subcontractor?

Yes. Main contractors working for social landlords in the Scottish Borders can engage us as a tier-2 subcontractor for estate and external works, working under their systems and their client's specification.

Which housing standard applies in the Scottish Borders?

Social landlords in Scotland must meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, with energy efficiency rules (EESSH2) under review ahead of a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard.