Consultation response: The Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2014

Shelter Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation, which proposes to redraft the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 (‘the 2004 Order’) and introduce a requirement which specifically references physical standards. We have long been campaigning for improvements to the standard of temporary accommodation in which homeless households are placed.

Shelter Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to take a twin approach to improve standards in temporary accommodation. We would like to see:

- officially endorsed guidance on standards in temporary accommodation, building on guidance previously issued by Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute in Housing. A common minimum standard would apply to all types of temporary accommodation in Scotland.

- the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 extended to include the physical condition of the property which would make it unsuitable for families with children, or pregnant women. This change would enable families and pregnant women to challenge the temporary accommodation offered to them if it failed to meet this minimum standard