The Living Home Standard
It’s a disgrace that, 50 years on from when Shelter Scotland was founded, we still have a housing divide in Scotland.
New research reveals that 1 in 3 homes in Scotland do not meet the ground breaking Living Home Standard, which was created by the public for the public.
There is still a stark housing divide in Scotland which must be tackled urgently.
Young people, families with children, renters and people on low incomes are most likely to live in homes that don't meet this standard.
People in Scotland were asked whether their home met the Living Home Standard, which is based on 5 factors:
Affordability
Affordability was one of the top reasons that homes failed the Living Home Standard.
Percentages of people who said their homes did or did not meet this standard.
Decent conditions
Along with affordability, more homes in Scotland fell short of the Standard in terms of condition than any other aspect of an acceptable home.
Percentages of people who said their homes did or did not meet this standard.
Space
Adequate space was felt to be crucial for wellbeing, especially mental and social wellbeing.
Percentages of people who said their homes did or did not meet this standard.
Stability
Discussions around stability often referenced the extent to which people felt able to make the place they lived in a 'home'.
Percentages of people who said their homes did or did not meet this standard.
Neighbourhood
Living in an area where they felt safe and secure was particularly important to the public. They also wanted to be close enough to work, family and friends, and the services they need.
Percentages of people who said their homes did or did not meet this standard.
To create a fairer Scotland, we need to urgently tackle the housing divide.
We must address:
Not just how many homes, but how homes are made available to those who most need them.
Not just better standards, but how those standards are delivered on the ground.
Not just better legal protection, but how that empowers people to insist on their housing rights being met.
Read the whole report:
To find out more about the Living Home Standard and the results of this Scottish research, download the full report.
