The promise of a fairer housing system for Scotland

Responding to the details on housing announced by the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party in their proposed co-operation agreement, our director, Alison Watson, said:  

“Scotland has long been in the grip of a housing emergency leading to widening housing inequality and an assault on the fundamental human right to a safe home.  

“We’ve been calling for 37,100 social homes to be built in the next five years and these proposals offer hope that this can now be met as part of a more ambitious target of 110,000 new affordable homes in the next decade.  The wider agenda offers the potential for a fairer, greener and healthier housing system, with more good quality affordable homes and enhanced support for tenants’ rights.  

“If this deal goes ahead, we look forward to working constructively with the parties on their Programme for Government where we hope to see details for how they will accelerate the building programme in the next five years and support renters during recovery from the pandemic. Urgently addressing the shortage of social housing is key to tackling social justice issues like child poverty.  

“We welcome the intention to listen to people who have been impacted by homelessness and housing inequality as this ambitious agenda for reform is delivered.”