A discussion paper outlined key areas for strengthening investment in the social housing sector in Scotland.
Source: Investing in Affordable Housing – A Radical Rethink?, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2009-Dec
The housing watchdog in Scotland examined the contribution of registered social landlords in Scotland to helping local authorities meet their duties to homeless people, with a particular focus on meeting the 2012 target to give permanent accommodation to all homeless people. Progress towards the 2012 target was not consistent across Scotland, and councils would have to rely more on RSLs to provide temporary and permanent accommodation to homeless households. All social landlords would need to focus more on preventing homelessness and sustaining tenancies.
Source: Thematic Report: RSLs and Homelessness – The contribution of registered social landlords to preventing and alleviating homelessness in Scotland, Scottish Housing Regulator (0141 271 3810)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Nov
The Scottish Government published a Bill to improve protection for home-owners faced with repossession at each stage of the repossession process.
Source: Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | SG press release
Date: 2009-Oct
Campaigners in Scotland said that there was a 'growing chasm' between the number of social homes for rent needed and the number available. There were fewer social homes for rent than at any time since 1959. Much of that decline had been as a result of 'Right to Buy': since 1998 alone, 135,000 social sector homes had been sold into private hands.
Source: Building Pressure: Access to housing in Scotland in 2009, Shelter Scotland (0131 473 7170)
Links: Report | Shelter press release | Scottish Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jul
The housing watchdog in Scotland said that just under half of social housing services in Scotland were poor or only adequate.
Source: Social Landlords in Scotland: Shaping up for Improvement, Scottish Housing Regulator (0141 271 3810)
Links: Report | SHR press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Jul
A think-tank report said that a fully integrated road, rail, and air hub should be established in Scotland to help boost economic growth.
Source: Ben Thomson, Geoff Mawdsley and Nefertali Deeb, Power to Connect, Reform Scotland (0131 524 9500)
Links: Report | Reform Scotland press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jun
A report by a committee of MSPs said that a planning system 'burdened' by a belief that the countryside should be protected from development was exacerbating a serious shortage of housing in Scotland's rural areas.
Source: Rural Housing, 5th Report 2009, SP Paper 256, Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2009-May
The Scottish Executive published a policy statement designed to raise standards of urban and rural development. It said that good design was recognized as a practical means of achieving a wide range of social, economic, and environmental goals, making places that would be successful and sustainable.
Source: Designing Places: A policy statement for Scotland, Scottish Government (0131 556 8400)
Links: Policy statement
Date: 2009-Apr
The Scottish Government began consultation on proposals to end the 'Right to Buy' for new-build social housing.
Source: Draft Housing (Scotland) Bill: A Consultation, Scottish Government (0131 556 8400)
Links: Consultation document | SG press release | CIH press release
Date: 2009-Apr
An action plan highlighted the potential role of housing organizations in Scotland as catalysts for regenerating deprived communities.
Source: Acton Plan: Community Regeneration, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (0131 225 4544)
Links: Action plan | CIH press release
Date: 2009-Mar
A report said that housing associations in Scotland were finding it more difficult to build new homes after the Scottish Government had cut subsidy levels and private finance had became increasingly scarce. It called for the Scottish Government to give housing associations a fiscal stimulus by restoring subsidy levels to those operating before the financial crisis in 2007-08.
Source: Arrested Development: The challenges facing RSLs in building affordable housing, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (0131 225 4544)
Links: Report | CIH press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Mar
The Scottish Government published a review of the private rented sector. The 'vast majority' of tenants were satisfied with their landlord, agent and accommodation: but there was evidence that others were subject to poor standards of property and management, and that rental affordability for particular groups was an issue.
Source: Scottish Government Review of the Private Rented Sector: Key Findings and Policy Implications, Scottish Government (web publication only) | Valerie Strachan and Tony Donohoe, Views and Experiences of Tenants in the Private Rented Sector in Scotland, Scottish Government | Tony Crook, Peter Kemp and Ed Ferrari, Views and Experiences of Landlords in the Private Rented Sector, Scottish Government | Ann Flint and Hector Currie, Bringing Private Sector Empty Houses Into Use, Scottish Government
Links: Report (1) | Summary | Report (2) | Report (3) | Report (4) | Summary | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Mar
A report highlighted inconsistencies in the level of priority that local authorities in Scotland had given to key housing issues. It also expressed concern at the lack of targets and monitoring, in particular around the preparation for the new homelessness duties in 2012. It called for a review of the resources required to ensure local authorities could deliver.
Source: Single Outcome Agreements and Housing 2008/09: A Shared Vision?, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (0131 225 4544)
Links: Report | CIH press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Feb