Housing (Scotland) Bill 2013: policy proposal on section 5 referrals

Shelter Scotland believes that all statutory homeless referrals from local authorities to registered social landlords (RSLs) should be dealt with using a ‘Section 5 referral’, a power laid out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. We have This Housing Bill should reframe that legislation to make use of these powers mandatory.

By making Section 5 referrals mandatory, there will be greater transparency for individuals and organisations and it will be easier to track and monitor partnership working between local authority and RSL partners.