Scotland's performance in ensuring right to adequate housing is falling short, new research finds 

New research published by Shelter Scotland has found that Scotland is not performing well in ensuring people have the right to adequate housing.

The research, conducted by Diffley Partnership for Shelter Scotland, looked at people’s lived experience of housing in Scotland. It examined the seven elements of the right to adequate housing, as outlined by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) :

• Affordability

• Habitability

• Security of tenure

• Availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure

• Accessibility

• Location

• Cultural adequacy

Among the elements assessed, location was deemed the most acceptable for most people, while affordability was identified as having the greatest potential for improvement. Factors such as security of tenure, accessibility, habitability, cultural adequacy, and the availability of services, materials, facilities, and infrastructure fell somewhere in between.

Many participants mentioned the push and pull between affordability and suitability, and affordability dictating whether people can achieve many of the other elements.

On habitability, repairs and conditions and the energy crisis were referenced as key issues and a lack of accountability from landlords was the key frustration.

One participant said: “I’ve not really had a ceiling in the kitchen for over a year. There was a leak in the house, so I had flooding, so it’s like damp everywhere and mould growing everywhere. The windows don’t open. There are loads of things, like I honestly don’t think that a person should live in that house until it’s properly done up again”. 

On security of tenure, the private rented sector was cited as the key area where improvements were required. People highlighted the lack of control and power imbalance between tenants and private landlords, and the impact that had on the way they felt they could live their lives. 

Long periods spent in so-called temporary accommodation were also highlighted by one of the participants, who had so far been there for nearly 3 years with her children: “Like, I need stability for my kids because it’s the constant ‘are we moving, are we not moving? How long are we staying here?’ and they’ll have already formed friendships and things so it’ll be even harder for them because we’ve been here for so long.”  

An increase in the supply of social housing was thought to be a key way the government could address affordability, particularly given high private sector rents and the cost-of-living crisis.

In addition to the ratings, the research also demonstrated that certain groups were highlighted as at most risk of not having their rights realised – disabled people, larger families and people from some minoritised ethnic communities, particularly where there might be a cultural norm for multi-generational households.  

Our Director Alison Watson said:

“With a new Human Rights Bill on the horizon, the incorporation of the human right to adequate housing into Scots law is crucial to help ensure everyone has a safe, secure and affordable home. 

“This research demonstrates that Scotland is still some way off to ensuring people’s housing rights are met, and that there is an opportunity for the bill to translate real change on the ground.

“Scotland is in a housing emergency, and there are too many people without a suitable home. The Scottish Government must recognise this, put words into action and commit to delivering more social housing. The 9,595 children in Scotland without somewhere to call home don’t deserve to wait a second longer.”