Housing (Scotland) Bill – written evidence at Stage 1

Shelter supports the proposals to create an independent Regulator, and in particular that homelessness services continue to be a specified part of the Regulator’s objectives.

We think that the Scottish Housing Regulator should explain to the Committee how the new powers will be used in practice.

Shelter supports proposals to curtail the right to buy, but considers that the changes proposed in the Bill could be strengthened to safeguard the remaining rented stock. We would like to see the right to buy suspended for all new tenants, including tenancies created through transfers and successions, and the modernised right to buy extended to all existing tenants.

Shelter supports provisions to allow a private tenant to see out a tenancy where a mortgage lender is seeking repossession from a private landlord who has not declared they are letting the property.