Housing leaders from across Scotland will gather in Edinburgh today (Tuesday) to discuss the potential of the private rented sector to house people who are in desperate need of a home.

The conference – Using the private rented sector to house homeless people [1] – will offer delegates the chance to hear about and discuss new regulations which are due to come into force later this week. [2]

The new regulations under Section 32a of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 are due to go live on February 25, 2010. Shelter Scotland, along with CoSLA have organised the conference, with the support of the Scottish Government and Orchard & Shipman Plc, to discuss how best to use the new powers in practice.

These new powers will allow local authorities greater use of the private rented sector for housing people who find themselves homeless.

Those on the platform on the day will include: COSLA spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Safety Councillor Harry McGuigan; Head of Policy at Shelter Scotland Gavin Corbett; and Jim Anderson from the Scottish Government's Homelessness Team.

In addition, Cathie Fancy from Scottish Borders Council's Housing Strategy & Services department, John Blackwood, Director of the Scottish Association of Landlords, and Andrew Morrison, Director of Policy & Business Development at Orchard & Shipman Plc, will speak on making the regulations work in practice.

Speaking ahead of the event, Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, said: 'Meeting the 2012 deadline to give everyone the right to a home is an internationally recognised commitment that Scotland must meet [3]. The private rented sector has a role to play in areas where social housing is especially scarce and can provide a housing solution for some homeless people.

'Some people will choose to get a private let rather than spend years stuck in temporary accommodation and with thousands already on long waiting lists, and affordable housing supply at a 50-year low, we must look at other options. We will be keeping an eye on this to ensure that people are given support in the private rented sector and that accommodation provided is suitable, secure and affordable.'

He added: 'A properly regulated private rented sector which ensures a safe and secure home for tenants, as well as giving landlords the chance to work within a professional, high quality area of housing is the ideal situation for everyone.'

Andrew Morrison, Director of Policy & Business Development at Orchard & Shipman Plc, commented: 'The private rented sector has a key role to play in helping local authorities meet their homelessness duties. This has already been demonstrated in the successful Private Sector Leasing schemes in Scotland where private landlords are providing much needed housing supply in return for guarantees on rent and property condition.

'Our LetFirst Local Lettings Agency is also helping households in Edinburgh source accommodation in the traditional private rented sector. This homelessness prevention initiative can be adapted for discharging homelessness duty following a period of sustained tenancy. In the current financial climate, utilising the housing supply within the private rented sector is more urgent as we approach 2012.'

COSLA spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Safety Councillor Harry McGuigan, said: 'COSLA is delighted to be hosting a joint event with Shelter Scotland on the new homelessness regulations.

'The new regulations will provide local authorities and other housing providers with the flexibility to provide an alternative housing option that will contribute towards meeting the housing needs of a number of homeless people in priority need. Today’s event will be a great opportunity for practitioners in the housing sector to hear about the regulations first hand and discuss how best to make use of the private rented sector.'

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: 'It's imperative we do all we can to achieve our 2012 target of offering all unintentionally homeless people, accommodation. I believe opening up access to rented homes in the private sector will help councils deliver a better range of housing options for people in priority need. Supported by guidance for councils, this will ensure that the best interests of homeless people are taken into account.

'The Scottish Government is also making available £1.65 billion to build thousands of affordable homes and investing millions in the first major council house building programme in Scotland for over thirty years. But importantly, councils have also been given guidance on how to prevent people getting to the stage where they are without a home and this has helped to reduce the number of people repeatedly presenting as homeless.

'All this, and awareness raising work we are doing with councils, will help support councils to meet our important goal.'

Notes to editors

1. The Shelter Scotland conference takes place on Tuesday, February 23, at CoSLA, Roseberry House, Edinburgh.
2. The new regulations will give local authorities the option to place a homeless household with a private landlord and to discharge their legislative duty to house that household with a short assured tenancy. The regulations set out a number of conditions to ensure that a private let is the most suitable choice: these include ensuring the accommodation meets the needs of the homeless household and is affordable. The local authority should also provide any support necessary to help the household moving into the private sector keep their tenancy. The regulations envisage that an initial 6 month tenancy would be offered, during which the local authority retains their duty to re-house the household. If at the end of this period, the landlord and the tenant are happy to renew the tenancy for a minimum of 12 months, then the local authority can be said to have met their statutory duty to the homeless household.
3. By 2012 all unintentionally homeless people should have access to a permanent home, under Scottish legislation. Currently, only people designated to be in 'priority need' – generally families with children – have the right to permanent homes. All others have access to only temporary accommodation and support. By 2012, there will be no distinction and everyone will have the right to a home.