New report calls for more affordable rented homes
10 July 2009
Scotland is staring into a housing abyss with fewer social rented homes than it had 50 years ago, according to a new report from Shelter Scotland.
'Building Pressure' lays bare the growing chasm between the number of homes needed and the number available, and launches Shelter Scotland's campaign for a serious cash hike for housing from next year's budget.
The report shows:
- There are fewer social homes for rent than at any time since 1959. Much of that decline has been as a result of Right to Buy. Since 1998 alone, 135,000 homes have been sold through Right to Buy.
- The number of council homes available to let has fallen dramatically. In 2001, there were 3.9 people on council waiting lists for every let. By 2008, this had risen to 6.6.
- At current rates it would take almost seven years to find a house for everyone already on housing waiting lists.
- The number of people stuck in temporary accommodation – often expensive accommodation provided to people who are homeless – has soared by 135 per cent between 2001 and 2008. This means there are at least 17,000 people (including 7,000 children) in temporary housing – almost enough to fill Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh.
- By 2008, despite house price inflation falling off, it was still 16 per cent harder for a first time buyer to buy a home than it was in 2001.
Read Building pressure.
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