Scottish Housing Day: Delivering on FLAIR’s Housing Pledge for MND

Today, on Scottish Housing Day, 16 September, MND Scotland shares an update on FLAIR’s (Federation of Local Housing Associations in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire) commitment to people with MND, having delivered turnaround times of 22 and 24 working days from the point of referral to the completion of ramps and wetrooms for people living with motor neuron disease (MND).

Seven months on from the launch of the FLAIR first-of-its-kind cross-association pledge to support the housing needs of people living with MND, the housing associations have successfully supported four people living with the progressive, neurodegenerative condition across the local area.

In November 2025, MND Scotland worked with FLAIR to launch Scotland’s inaugural MND housing association pledge, committed to supporting the housing needs of people with MND in their communities.

Six housing associations that make up FLAIR – Barrhead, Bridgewater, Ferguslie Park, Linstone, Paisley and Williamsburgh – formally committed to enhancing their service provision for tenants and owners diagnosed with MND in their communities.

The pledge, which applies to housing association tenants as well as those living in homes they own and privately rented homes, made a series of commitments, including fast-tracking adaptations and accessible housing allocation processes for those with MND and other rapidly progressing terminal illnesses.

Over the last seven months, FLAIR has supported four people living with MND by implementing timely, fast-tracked adaptations to their homes. By utilising the strong relationships their care and repair service has with contractors, and supportive management, FLAIR has ensured that MND referrals receive a compassionate and rapid response.

With wait lists for adaptations such as ramps taking up to 15 months in some areas of the country, and 12 months for a wetroom, the case timelines for FLAIR’s two most recent MND referrals illustrate the phenomenal speed at which they have delivered vital housing adaptations – less than 24 working days from referral to completion for a ramp and wetroom.

John Blair, Care & Repair Project Manager said, “For someone living with MND, time is incredibly precious. The condition can progress rapidly, which means housing adaptations that might normally take months need to be delivered in a matter of weeks. Our approach is simple: as soon as a referral comes in, we mobilise the right people, engage contractors at the earliest opportunity and remove as many barriers as possible from the process.

“The adaptations themselves are important, but so too is the experience people have while accessing them. We want individuals and their families to feel listened to, supported and reassured at what can be an extremely difficult time. By working collaboratively behind the scenes to coordinate funding, approvals and procurement, we can focus on what matters most: helping people remain safe, independent and comfortable in their own homes.”

Suzanne Austin, Chair of FLAIR, said, “The success of this pledge demonstrates what can be achieved when housing associations come together with a shared purpose. Every person diagnosed with MND deserves access to the right housing support at the right time, and we are proud that our partnership has been able to make a meaningful difference to the lives of local people and their families.

“While we are encouraged by the progress made so far, our ambition is for this level of responsiveness to become the norm rather than the exception. No one should have to fight for the adaptations and support they need to live safely and with dignity in their own home. Through FLAIR, we will continue to work with MND Scotland, local partners and the wider housing sector to champion better outcomes for people living with MND.”

Lynda Gilroy, from Darnick near Melrose, is a carer for her husband Bill, who is living with MND. Lynda said, “After many emails and phone calls, we were delighted that Scottish Borders Council were able to meet with us to discuss our year-long wait for adaptations to the house to allow Bill a shower and access in and out of his home.

“The initial discussions were very positive and the council were very happy to initiate a 12-week project to allow them to assess the issues we raised and try to come up with a suitable solution that would mean that people with MND, and other life-limiting illnesses, would be fast-tracked and have adaptations completed in a more timely manner.

“Unfortunately, the project has run on and we still don’t have a suitable process in place, however, we remain positive that it won’t be long until this is resolved.”

“We would be delighted if SBC could take on a similar concept to Renfrewshire’s FLAIR in association with MND Scotland pledge to: Fast-tracking medical adaptations; Creating a single point of contact; Adopting a person-centred approach; Streamlining accessible housing allocations; and increasing future-proofed stock.

“If this had been in place in our region we would have experienced much more rapid adaptations with better communication throughout the process. And Bill would not have had to wait a year to shower in his own bathroom. It would have reduced the number of falls he suffered trying to get in and out of the shower, and would have taken away all the extra stress put on us over the year of waiting.”

Dr Jane Haley MBE, Interim CEO for MND Scotland, said, “By transforming the picture of housing for people with MND in their area, FLAIR continues to set a gold standard for how housing adaptation processes can work for people with conditions like MND. This should be normal practice, ensuring no one spends their time fighting for support and for safety and dignity in their home. We will continue to advocate at every level, and to work with other housing associations, local authorities, and national government to ensure that this is the case in both policy and in practice”.

If you are interested in finding out more about the pledge, and how you can get involved, please contact policy@mndscotland.org.uk