The Scottish Housing Regulator has welcomed a new Chair. Garry Coutts has been appointed by Scottish Ministers from 1 August 2025.
Garry has been interested in social housing for many years and considers secure, affordable housing within flourishing communities as one of the most important elements for the health and wealth of people in Scotland.
He was elected as a councillor to represent the Niddrie Ward of Edinburgh Council in 1984 and amongst other things played a key role in the creation of Hunters Hall Housing Co-operative (now part of Hillcrest Homes), the first such development in the East of Scotland.
Garry moved to the Highlands in 1996 where he was elected to Highland Council and chaired their Housing and Social Work Committee, before he became Chair of NHS Highland, a role he held for 12 years.
In 2004 he became chair of the Scottish Social Services Council and in 2014 took over the role of chair of Children’s Hearings Scotland. He was delighted to play a part in ensuring Children’s Hearings were focused on delivering the Promise.
He has also chaired the Court of the University of the Highlands and Islands and is presently the Chair of Highland Housing Alliance which delivers mid-market rent homes across the Highlands.
Garry helps to run a tourism business in the Highlands with his family.
He is absolutely thrilled to be appointed to the role of chair of SHR and feels he has returned to his first love – social housing.
Find out more about the new Chair and the appointment by Scottish Ministers.
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Housing Regulator was established on 1 April 2011 under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Its objective is to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants and others who use local authority and RSL housing services. The Regulator operates independently of Scottish Ministers and is accountable directly to the Scottish Parliament. It assumed its full regulatory responsibilities on 1 April 2012. The Regulator consists of the Deputy Chair and five Board members. More information about the Regulator can be found on its website at www.housingregulator.gov.scot
- SHR sets out how it regulates social landlords in its published framework – Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland.