Tag: housing emergency

Cladding levy Bill carries significant risk to Scotland’s housing market, says Holyrood’s Finance Committee

A Bill to raise funds towards Scotland’s cladding remediation programme carries “significant risk” to the housing market, says a parliamentary report published today.

Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee says it is “unconvinced” that the Scottish Government has fully considered the implications of the Bill on the nation’s ‘housing emergency’.

The committee has decided, therefore, to make no recommendation on the general principles of the Bill – a first time for this committee – and says it hopes the government will respond positively to its findings.

The committee is also calling on the government to carry out market ‘sensitivity analysis’ prior to deciding levy rates and reliefs, and to monitor the effect of the new tax on the housing sector.

Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson said: “Our committee understands the Scottish Government’s intent behind this Bill, but we believe the introduction of the levy carries significant risk.

“We have concerns regarding its potential impact on the housing market, and on the delivery of houses in areas where the viability of building sites is already challenging.

“We are unconvinced that the government has fully considered the implications for its self-declared housing emergency when designing the policy approach for this levy. We also believe the policy design has been focussed on the arbitrary figure that the levy could raise, and not sufficiently focussed on developing a good, well-structured levy that is sustainable.

“On the basis of the evidence received, our committee makes no recommendation on the general principles of the Bill. We trust that the Scottish Government will respond positively to our recommendations to inform further discussion of the general principles during the Stage 1 debate in the chamber in January 2026.”

Calling for regular reports on the housing market impact, Mr Gibson said: “Our committee recommends that the reporting requirements in the Bill be strengthened, so that the government is required to report every three years on how the levy is working. That report should include an assessment of how the levy is impacting the Scottish housing market in practice.” 

Mr Gibson went on: “Our committee does not consider the levy to be fully reflective of the sensitivities of the housing market in Scotland.

“We therefore recommend the government undertakes a sensitivity analysis, to assess in more detail, the impact of the levy on the housing market – in particular on rural sites and on SME developers.

“The analysis should be published in time to inform the government’s decisions in setting levy rates and, where applicable, any reliefs, through secondary legislation.”

Other findings and recommendations:

  • there is a strong case for exempting remote rural areas from the scope of the levy. While recognising the challenges in developing an appropriate definition for remote rural developments, this should not be a barrier to introducing this important exemption.
  • the Bill should be amended to include a sunset clause to provide an opportunity to robustly review after 15 years how the levy is operating and for the Scottish Parliament to then decide whether the law should remain in place. This, we consider, should provide much-needed reassurance to the industry that the levy is not intended to become a permanent tax on housebuilding.
  • the committee is concerned about the potential for the levy to contribute to the loss of historic buildings in Scotland. It recommends the government considers a targeted broadening of this exemption for conversions, which will help to protect historic buildings that may otherwise remain abandoned.

Minister Ivan McKee announced in November 2025 that introduction of the levy rates will be pushed back by more than a year to April 2028.

The Stage 1 debate on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill is expected to be debated by Parliament in the new year.

Read the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill

Read the committee report

Edinburgh Poverty Commission: ‘We cannot say things have got better’

‘EDINBURGH IS NOT ON TRACK TO SOLVE POVERTY’

The Edinburgh Poverty Commission has published a report and action plan for tackling poverty over the next five years.

Five years on from their original report, they have joined forces with the End Poverty Edinburgh citizens’ group, to evaluate what has changed in the city since 2020, what has worked best to prevent people being trapped in a cycle of poverty, and to set out a practical pathway for the next five years.

Unveiled at a conference in the Southside yesterday (Friday 31 October), A Just Capital: 2025 Call to Action acknowledges positive progress has been made to support residents across the city – but reveals poverty rates remain largely unchanged and that the next five years need to be a period of accelerated delivery.

Responding to the findings, City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Since the Commission’s initial report, we’ve declared a housing emergency and experienced an unprecedented cost of living crisis. With food prices now 57% higher and electricity costs up 48%, it has become even more difficult to tackle poverty, but we are making progress.

“The Commission’s calls to action in 2020 have enabled us to focus as a city and to work better together. Our collective efforts have prevented thousands more people from entering poverty and homelessness and have helped many more into secure work. This is alongside putting millions of pounds worth of previously unclaimed benefits into people’s pockets and helping to establish a dedicated poverty prevention fund.

“And yet, poverty rates remain unchanged, and the figures are stark. Nearly a quarter of a million children are experiencing poverty in Scotland, and more than 80,000 Edinburgh residents are struggling to make ends meet, often being forced to choose between heating or eating.

“We cannot address this alone and I welcome the Commission’s latest report, which calls on all levels of government to respond.

“Over the next five years we will focus our efforts on prevention – establishing new neighbourhood prevention partnerships meaning people can get all the help they need in one place. We also need to increase the affordable and social rented housing Edinburgh so desperately needs. We’re determined to take every local action possible to make life fairer for everyone who calls Edinburgh home.

Linda Craik, Co-Chair of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission said: “During this review we’ve heard some quite distressing stories of the impacts and effects of poverty on families and we’ve heard the frustrations of those agencies and individuals who are trying to help them. But we’ve also seen some fantastic examples of collaborative working which is starting to make an impact on the poverty landscape.

“It can be so easy to look at the poverty, housing, health, employment statistics and feel deflated and disheartened, but we, as a city, made a commitment and we are moving forward. 

“Just keep listening to the people you are trying to help – they after all just might have some of the answers and the simple solutions that sometimes aren’t as obvious as you’d think they might be.

“End Poverty Edinburgh are such people and we’re more than happy to work with anyone who wants to be part of movement to eradicate poverty in our city.”

Jim McCormick, Co-Chair of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission, said: “We are five years on since the Edinburgh Poverty Commission set out calls to action for the city in A Just Capital. Published between two Covid lockdowns, Commission members could not have anticipated the long shadow of the pandemic on people’s lives, or the impact of the cost-of-living crisis that followed.

“We cannot say things have got better city-wide. Some things have become tougher. Overall, Edinburgh is not on track to solve poverty. Poverty levels appear to have flat-lined.

“At the same time, it is also true that we have seen signs of positive change. Powerful collaborative work is being done at neighbourhood level, while early but decisive steps are being taken to prevent homelessness.

“That this review has taken place at all is a mark of the city’s commitment. For things to improve, this needs to go further. We have found enough determination in the city to believe that the original calls to action can still be achieved by 2030.

“Longer-term and flexible funding, true collaboration between sectors and new forms of accountability are required for these examples to achieve their real impact.

“This is a time for renewed commitment from those we elect at local, Scottish and UK levels, via investment in social housing, education, fair work, social security, equity in education, health and social care and a just transition. There is no sustainable route to ending poverty otherwise.”

Edinburgh Poverty Commission 2025 Calls to Action (1)Download

Scotland urged to put housing justice at heart of next election

People with lived experience of homelessness are uniting with dozens of leading organisations to demand urgent action on Scotland’s worsening housing crisis.

Their joint manifesto will be launched today at Scotland’s Annual Homelessness Conference, hosted by Homeless Network Scotland, on 27 and 28 October in Perth.

It calls on all political parties to commit to a programme of housing justice that will ensure everyone in Scotland has a safe, secure place to call home.

The scale of the crisis has been laid bare in recent statistics, with more than 17,200 households currently trapped in temporary accommodation, a 6% increase in one year, including over 10,000 children.

Nearly 250,000 people are on waiting lists for a social home, and 40,688 households have applied to their local council for help with homelessness last year. On average, those in temporary accommodation wait 238 days for a settled home.

The call comes from members of Everyone Home, a collective of nearly 40 third and academic sector organisations focused on ending homelessness, and All In for Change, a platform that unites lived experience and practitioner insight of homelessness across Scotland to enable decision-makers to drive real change.

All in for Change said: “In the Change Team, we see every day how the housing emergency hurts people who are homeless and those trying to help them. Frontline workers do amazing work, but they’re trapped in a broken system with too little housing and support to fix it.

“Some of us have been homeless ourselves, so we know the reality first-hand. But we believe this can be made better for others, with real political commitment and funding being used more wisely.

“We’ve laid out clear expectations for party manifestos, and we’ll keep pushing to shield people from the worst of homelessness in this housing emergency.”

Set almost 18 months after Scotland’s housing emergency was formally declared, the manifesto outlines a practical, values-led approach to resolving a crisis that continues to deepen inequality and exclusion.

It sets out five priority actions for the next Scottish Government, under the banner of SCALE. It calls for the launch of a national ‘Big Build’ programme to dramatically increase the supply of social housing, with a target of nearly 16,000 new homes each year of the next parliament backed by at least £8.8bn.

The manifesto urges political leaders to coordinate support services more effectively, so that housing is fully integrated with health, social care and justice to ensure no-one falls through the cracks.

It demands that public funding decisions align with housing priorities, including the use of tax powers and long-term investment plans that can give frontline workers and those they support greater certainty.

It insists that housing rights must be protected and fully resourced, warning that too many local authorities are currently struggling to meet their legal obligations.

Finally, it calls for fast-track housing and support for groups facing systemic exclusion, including people affected by poverty, discrimination, trauma, gender-based violence and UK immigration policy.

Maggie Brünjes, chief executive, Homeless Network Scotland, said: “Scotland’s housing emergency is a plan gone wrong, driving homelessness and deepening inequality. To reverse this, we must invest in more social housing, higher incomes, proactive prevention and support that is fully integrated across health, housing, justice and social care. 

“The Everyone Home collective manifesto is a plan to put that right and a call for Housing Justice. Combining first-hand, professional and academic insight, the manifesto outlines real-world measures to reduce inefficient spending, prevent the worst harm among the worst off, and scale solutions for a Scotland where everyone has a home.”

The manifesto launch will take place at Scotland’s Annual Homelessness Conference, this year titled ‘It’s Personal: the human face of the housing emergency’.

The two-day event will shine a light on the real-world, human impact of the crisis, through people with lived experience, advocates and experts sharing knowledge and practical ideas to deliver lasting change.

Helen Murdoch, Asst. Director of Strategic Operations & Development (Scotland) at conference delivery partner The Salvation Army, said: “This year’s conference takes place in the shadow of a housing and homelessness crisis that tests our compassion, our resources and our collective resolve.

“The demand for services that support people experiencing homelessness is far outstripping supply – that must change and change quickly. Conference is an opportunity to explore our role in bringing about that change and The Salvation Army is proud to be an event partner.

“It is also a time to look beyond the headlines and statistics, to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary courage and resilience of teams working in communities, the third sector, local authorities and religious bodies to support people experiencing homelessness.”

Keynote speakers include Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, who will address the event, renowned children’s rights campaigner and author Baroness Floella Benjamin, and rising social justice advocate Eireann McAuley, named one of the Young Women’s Movement’s ‘30 under 30′.

Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE said: “Having a safe and secure home is the key building block for living a happy and fulfilling life, yet today that basic human need is being denied to too many people. The impact on them is heartbreaking.

“All it takes is the grit, perseverance and determination to face the challenges and to keep on pushing for positive change. There is no shortage of people willing to fight this fight and I support all those who are working to change people’s lives.

“When I address Scotland’s annual homelessness conference I hope to energise and inspire the audience, to bring them joy amid the struggle. I want to remind people that even though it sometimes doesn’t feel like it, the work they do every day can and does change lives. So never give up.”

The launch marks the start of a national conversation aimed at ensuring housing and homelessness are top-tier priorities ahead of the 2026 election.

Housing Convener welcomes funding boost for affordable housing

Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron has welcomed an increase in funding for affordable housing.

A rise in the Scottish Government’s ‘voids and acquisition’ fund, which will double in its second year, means Edinburgh will receive £28.6m, an additional £13.8m compared to 2024/25. This brings the total Scottish Government funding for affordable housing supply in Edinburgh to £73.7m in 2025/26.

The funding is targeted at councils with the highest sustained pressures on temporary accommodation and is focused on the acquisition of existing properties, in particular family-sized homes.

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “I warmly welcome this award of £73.7 million for Edinburgh from the Scottish Government and believe this funding recognises the pressures in Edinburgh in terms of acute housing demand and increased dependence and spend on temporary accommodation.

“Sadly, far too many families in Edinburgh continue to struggle to find affordable places to live and are living in temporary accommodation. This is why we are prioritising acquiring much-needed larger, family-sized homes for residents across the city, helping to reduce further the number of children living in unsuitable accommodation.  This funding will go towards that.

“We’re also now fast approaching the two-year anniversary of declaring a housing emergency in Edinburgh, and whilst we are making every effort to deliver more new homes, housing supply simply isn’t meeting Edinburgh’s level of housing demand.

“Much more needs to be done, and much more money needs to come to Edinburgh.”

Find out more about affordable homes in Edinburgh.

Scottish Government publishes Housing Emergency Action Plan

PLAN TO END CHLDREN LIVING IN UNSUITABLE ACCOMMODATION, SUPPORT VULNERABLE GROUPS AND BOOST INVESTMENT

Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan has published the Housing Emergency Action Plan to tackle the housing crisis.

The plan focuses on three key areas – ending children living in unsuitable accommodation, supporting the housing needs of vulnerable groups and supporting growth and investment in the housing sector.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Housing Secretary set out a number of key commitments, including:

  • A new commitment to invest up to £4.9 billion over the next four years, delivering around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30 and providing a home for up to 24,000 children.
  • Doubling investment in acquisitions this year to £80 million, which will help take between 600-800 children out of temporary accommodation.
  • Implement Awaab’s Law from March 2026, starting with damp and mould, subject to parliamentary approval, to ensure landlords promptly address issues hazardous to tenants.
  • A new £1 million national ‘fund to leave’ to provide financial support for up to 1,200 women and their children to leave an abusive partner.
  • Unlocking land for housing in rural areas by working with the Scottish National Investment Bank, landowners and public bodies
  • A new Ministerial direction to planning authorities.

Ms McAllan said: “Tackling the housing emergency will be a cornerstone in our efforts to achieve the Scottish Government’s key priority of eradicating child poverty. I am determined this action plan will deliver positive and lasting change.

“At the heart of my mission is ensuring children are not spending time in unsuitable accommodation or long periods in temporary accommodation; that the housing needs of vulnerable communities are met and that we create the optimum conditions for confidence and investment in Scotland’s housing sector.

“Our efforts so far since declaring a housing emergency have seen 2,700 families with children into a permanent home, up to December 2024. Our action plan will see tens of thousands more families have a place they can call home.

“Since I took up the role of Cabinet Secretary I have listened to calls from the sector for multi-year funding to give housebuilders more long-term certainty.

“Today I have committed to investing up to £4.9 billion in affordable homes over the next four years. This long-term certainty and increase in funding will support delivery of around 36,000 affordable homes and provide up to 24,000 children with a warm, safe home.

“We cannot tackle this emergency alone though and I need everyone from across the private and public sector to pull together and deliver this plan to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to a safe, warm and affordable home.”

Crisis Scotland’s Head of Policy and Communications Maeve McGoldrick said: “We welcome today’s announcement. Homelessness is the most acute form of poverty, and we see the damage it does through our frontline services every day.

“Investment in new housing will help prevent more people being forced from their homes, while the expansion of Housing First will provide a vital route out of homelessness for people who have been let down by services for too long.

“We can’t allow more people to be trapped in the limbo of the homelessness system– we need to act now to help build a Scotland where everyone has a safe, secure place to call home.”

Scottish Women’s Aid CEO Dr Marsha Scott said: “Scottish Women’s Aid warmly welcomes announcement of a roll-out of the original Fund to Leave pilots to the rest of Scotland.

“Every day we and our local Women’s Aid services see women and children struggling to get free of an abuser.  The Fund to Leave offers a critical helping hand when women and children need it most. 

‘Leaving’ is difficult and dangerous, and the Fund to Leave is such an important step to making leaving and staying free from an abuser a reality across Scotland.” 

Right There works to prevent people becoming homeless and separated from their loved ones, and believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

Commenting on the plan, CEO, Janet Haugh said: “Scotland is in the midst of a national housing emergency which needs ambitious and robust action to reverse it.

“We are encouraged that today’s plan recognises the crisis our country is in, with over 53,000 people currently without a home, and over 10,000 children living in temporary accommodation.

“We welcome the focus on ending children’s time in unsuitable or temporary accommodation. Every child deserves a safe, stable place to call home – it is the foundation of wellbeing, learning and hope for the future.

“We know that a house alone is not enough. The right support around people – whether they are rebuilding after domestic abuse, facing poverty, or at risk of homelessness – is vital to turn housing into a home.

“We see every day the pressure on families and individuals waiting far too long in temporary accommodation. While progress is welcome, the reality is that thousands still need urgent solutions.

“We stand ready to play our part. Local organisations like Right There can be powerful delivery partners, bringing together housing, support and community. Sustainable investment and genuine collaboration will be critical.

“Housing is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about fairness, dignity, and giving people the chance to thrive. The Housing Emergency Action Plan will only succeed if it holds true to those values.”

Tackling Scotland’s Housing Emergency – gov.scot

Scottish Government: Further investment to prevent homelessness

£4 million for pilot projects

A fund for pilot projects to help people to stay in their homes has been launched by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan.

Managed by Advice Direct Scotland, the £4 million fund will support organisations to pilot new ‘ask and act’ measures. These duties, as part of the Housing (Scotland) Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament, will require bodies such as health boards, the police and prison service to take reasonable steps to prevent homelessness.

This Programme for Government commitment builds on an existing Scottish Government investment of £1 million from the homelessness prevention fund.

During her visit to West Granton Housing Co-operative in North Edinburgh Ms McAllan found out more about their ‘Get Settled’ project which supports 400 households who are homeless, or facing homelessness, across Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and Fife.

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “We are determined to end homelessness – and the best way to do this is to prevent homelessness in the first place. This investment in prevention pilots will help us test and scale up innovative approaches to help people stay in their homes.

“By taking action to prevent homelessness and reduce demand on the homelessness system, we can help ease the housing emergency.  

“Projects such as West Granton Housing Co-operative’s ‘Get Settled’ demonstrates how targeted support can transform lives by not only helping people to find a home but supporting them to settle into their communities.

“By working with housing associations, registered social landlords and other third sector partners we are building the foundations for legislation in the forthcoming Housing Bill to help prevent homelessness.”

Chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland Andrew Bartlett said: “Advice Direct Scotland is proud to be at the centre of such a landmark moment for homelessness prevention.

“The new ‘ask and act’ provisions shift the focus from crisis intervention towards proactive prevention which could save many people from enduring the trauma of homelessness.

“We look forward to working with organisations across sectors in Scotland to help people at risk of homelessness.”

Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications for Crisis Scotland, said: “Far too many people in Scotland are being forced to experience the trauma and indignity of homelessness in circumstances where, with the right help, it could have been prevented.

“These new legal duties, requiring public services to ask people at risk of homelessness about their housing situation, then act to offer support if needed, will help change that.

“But these plans are a world-first, and for the changes to be effective it’s vital we test out how they will work in practice, before the new protections are rolled out across the country. By running a series of pilots on the new homelessness prevention duties we can make sure those working in health, justice, education and beyond are fully prepared to play a greater role in ending homelessness in Scotland.”

‘Ask and Act’ – advice.scot

The West Granton Housing Co-operative administers £260,000 in grant funding for Get Settled ARCHIE services via seven housing associations who are members of the Alliance of Registered Co-operatives and Housing Associations, Independent in Edinburgh (ARCHIE).

City Council: Taking big steps towards solving housing emergency

Councillor Mandy Watt, Depute Leader and Finance and Resources Convener, writes:

As Edinburgh continues to grow, one of the most pressing issues we face is the shortage of affordable housing.

We’ve seen demand for homes increase year after year, but at the same time housing costs keep rising. The city’s supply of social housing and the grant funding we receive from the Scottish Government to build new homes just hasn’t kept pace with demand.

We’re working to tackle this housing emergency by both building homes and buying them. With around 5,500 households in temporary accommodation every night because of homelessness, we’ve set a target to significantly improve housing and to source homes quickly, within the means that we have.

Edinburgh continues to be the lowest funded local authority in Scotland per head of population, and currently has fewer council-owned homes, so we need to do things differently from other councils.

In the same way that homebuyers need a mortgage, borrowing has become a vital and standard part of our financial planning when we buy or build homes. It’s the most straightforward way to overcome the shortfall in our grant funding.

At the same time, we’re also continuing to make considerable investment in net zero energy improvements to existing council homes and retrofitting buildings because we need them to be more sustainable and in good condition. This too is supported by capital borrowing.

While our debt levels remain prudent, and in line with our income and spend, our financial planning in this area is enabling us to fund the regeneration the city needs. We’re using this approach to build and extend schools for the next generation, restore important structures like the North Bridge and create new communities, like the Granton Waterfront.

We’ve also taken a big step this week towards finding a solution for the existing community on Dreghorn Estate, and it’s an excellent example of the power of well-managed borrowing.

At a special meeting of our Finance and Resources Committee on Monday, we agreed in principle to purchase 38 homes from the Ministry of Defence for £6.65 million, using a mix of funding from the Scottish Government housing grant together with long-term loans. Rental income, over the life of the properties, will cover the borrowing costs.

If agreed at Full Council, this purchase will secure the futures of families already living on the estate, and it will also provide us with an already thriving community for other council tenants to move into.

This is a huge step towards a positive outcome – a fantastic example of doing things differently to make sure we address our housing emergency – and I know residents are very grateful that this proposal has had so much support from councillors.

This article first appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News on 11 June 2025

Housing placed at the heart of Cabinet as Mairi McAllan returns

First Minister announces changes to Ministerial team

Tackling the housing emergency will be at the heart of the Scottish Cabinet, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

Màiri McAllan has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Housing upon her return to government from maternity leave. Ms McAllan has responsibility for all aspects of housing policy, including heat in buildings.

This appointment will ensure government action is focused on tackling the housing emergency and providing energy efficient homes for the future – helping stimulate economic growth, deliver Net Zero commitments and tackle child poverty.  

Gillian Martin has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, having held the portfolio during Ms McAllan’s maternity leave.

Following the death of Christina McKelvie in March, Maree Todd will become Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, while retaining her existing responsibility for Sport. Tom Arthur has been appointed as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.

Housing Minister Paul McLennan has requested to leave the Scottish Government and he does so today (Wednesday). Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan will leave Government at the end of this week, having indicated that he only wished to serve on an interim basis.

Excluding the Law Officers, the overall size of government reduces to 23, down from 27 in May 2024.

First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland’s strengths lie in our people, our communities and our resolve to leave a better future, and better country for the next generation. As First Minister, I am firmly focused on leading a government that unlocks the potential for every person in Scotland to thrive.

“I have made changes to the Cabinet which will further enable us to realise that potential. Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency.

“These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change.

“Following the sad passing of Christina McKelvie, I have asked Maree Todd to take on responsibility for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. This government has shown it is not afraid to take bold measures to prevent harm and death, and we must redouble our efforts.

“I want to thank Paul McLennan and Alasdair Allan for the service they have provided to me, the government and to the people of Scotland.

“They both held two very important Ministerial appointments in housing and climate action and have helped to drive forward progress in tackling two issues which are central to Scotland’s long-term success as a nation.” 

The changes mean the Scottish Cabinet now consists of twelve, the majority of whom are women. Further changes mean the Ministerial team reduces to eleven, from fourteen.

The Scottish Cabinet is as follows:

  • First Minister John Swinney
  • Deputy First Minister, with responsibility for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes
  • Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison
  • Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth
  • Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance
  • Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville
  • Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop
  • Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan
  • Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin
  • Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon 
  • Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray
  • Cabinet Secretary for Constitution External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson

Tackling the housing emergency

Increasing housing supply and reducing temporary accommodation use

A range of measures have been taken by the Scottish Government to increase investment in housebuilding and help reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation since declaring a housing emergency last year.

Actions taken in the last year include:

  • Investing £600 million in affordable housing in 2024/25. £40 million of which was used to purchase properties and bring empty social homes back into use.
  • Helping to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation in 12 council areas, according to the latest figures.
  • Making an additional £1 million available to Registered Social Landlords and third sector organisations to prevent homelessness and support people to stay in rented accommodation.
  • Boosting supply through other funding models, including the Charitable Bonds programme which has seen investment of £46m in the past year, supporting the delivery of 325 homes.

Further action will be taken in the coming year to continue to tackle the housing emergency and ensure more people can access a safe and affordable home, including:

  • Investing £768 million in this financial year in affordable housing, which will support the delivery of 8,000 homes for social and mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership.
  • Providing local authorities with £15 billion this financial year for a range of services, including in homelessness services.
  • £2 million invested through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to continue to reduce the number of privately owned empty homes.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Providing everyone in Scotland the right to a warm, safe and affordable home is essential to our key priority of eradicating child poverty. The measures we have taken have meant increased investment in the affordable housing sector and fewer families living in temporary accommodation.

“As a result of our actions, an estimated more than 2,600 households with children have been helped into affordable housing in the year up to December 2024.

“We have delivered 136,000 affordable homes, with 97,000 of those for social rent, between 2007 and the end of December 2024. We are also working to identify and turn around empty private and social homes and encouraging more funding streams into the sector through our Housing Investment Taskforce.

“It is encouraging that we are seeing a reduction in families in temporary accommodation in some local authority areas. However, we know there is more to do which is why we have increased the affordable housing budget for this financial year by £200 million to £768 million.

“In the longer term we will also introduce homelessness prevention measures and a system of long-term rent controls in our Housing Bill.

“We are determined to tackle the housing emergency and ensure that everyone in Scotland can have somewhere to call home.”

Urgent action plan needed to tackle housing crisis, says Committee

A national action plan must be developed to tackle the housing emergency to avoid the risk the crisis “drifts on indefinitely”, according to a new report published by a Scottish Parliament Committee.

A year on from the official declaration of the national housing emergency by the Scottish Parliament, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee say a Housing Emergency Action Plan with clear milestones and outcomes would ensure progress towards ending the crisis can be properly assessed.

It is one of ten recommendations for the Scottish Government made in the Committee’s Housing Inquiry Report.

Other recommendations include, that the Scottish Government should:

  • As a matter of urgency, complete and implement its review of the affordable housing target (due summer 2024), provide an update on what progress has been made, and what the revised timescales are for completion
  • Provide clarity on whether its additional funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget will ensure that it meets its target of providing 110,000 affordable homes by 2030
  • Explore further the opportunities presented by increasing social investment in housing and in developing the capacity of the non-profit sector to obtain private finance

The Committee launched its inquiry last year, hearing from professionals working in the housing industry, local authorities, academics, homeless charities, tenants and landlords.

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Convener, Ariane Burgess MSP, said: “It’s now a year since the Scottish Parliament officially declared a national housing emergency and homelessness remains dangerously high in some areas where there is now a systemic failure in the ability of local authorities to meet their statutory duties.

“During this Inquiry, we heard that the housing emergency was years, even decades, in the making and was therefore both predictable and preventable.

“We can’t afford to be complacent. The Scottish Government must work with the wider housing sector to take urgent collective action to address the emergency and ensure all its departments and policies are having a measurable, clear and positive impact.”

The Committee also took evidence from the Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan, including on the Scottish Government’s Housing 2040 strategy – and is calling for an implementation plan of that policy to be developed as a matter of urgency.

It also made a further recommendation that housing providers are given urgent clarity on the intended legal requirements for homes to meet net zero standards.

The Scottish Government is expected to respond to the report within two months.

housing-inquiry-reportDownload

Scotland’s housing emergency now impacting 2.3 million adults, Shelter Scotland warns

Over four in 10 adults in Scotland are now impacted by the housing emergency (42%), an increase of 800,000 in just four years (up six percentage points from 36% in 2021), our new research has revealed.

Marking one year since the Scottish Parliament officially declared a housing emergency, a new poll conducted by YouGov exposes the deepening scale of the emergency. It found that 2.3 million adults in Scotland (42 per cent) are struggling with the condition, security, suitability or affordability of their home, or have faced discrimination while trying to find one. *

This comes less than a year before the next Scottish Parliamentary election. Shelter Scotland warns that political leaders have so far failed to deliver meaningful solutions to address the worsening housing emergency.

As it launches its new strategy, Shelter Scotland is setting the goal of making next year’s Scottish election an election to end the housing emergency. The charity is calling on every voter in Scotland to join the fight for home and demand that politicians of all parties focus on building enough homes.

Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson said: “It’s been a year since the Scottish Parliament declared a housing emergency. Since then, homelessness has gone up and social housebuilding has gone down.

“Last week the Scottish Government announced a Programme for Government with no plan to end the housing emergency. Instead, we had a Programme for Homelessness which says nothing about the 10,360 children are trapped in temporary accommodation which experts say exposes them to violence, vermin and isolation. This simply cannot continue into the next government.

“Everyone deserves a safe, secure home. But too many people in Scotland still live in fear — battling unaffordable rents, unsuitable housing, or outright discrimination.

“Today’s research reveals the harsh toll Scotland’s housing emergency has taken over the last four years – and it’s only getting worse.”

She added: “We want people to arm themselves with the knowledge of their housing rights. Scotland has some of the strongest housing legislation, but local authorities and the government need to comply to the law.

“This continued harm cannot be the norm. It’s time to say: enough is enough. The Scottish Government must urgently publish an updated housing emergency action plan. We need more social homes so the hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland no longer have to compromise their health, safety and education.”

Chelsea’s Story

Chelsea [33] has been in the homeless system since the start of 2023. After being placed in mould ridden temporary accommodation with her three children aged seven months, two, and eight years old, she had no choice but to leave it, fearing it was harming her children’s health.

She was placed in a hotel in the centre of Glasgow for a month where they had no cooking facilities and were cramped in one room.

Chelsea said: “It is a worry when I think about getting a forever home for my children. Whenever I speak to the housing officers, they keep telling me we’re in a housing emergency. People can’t carry on like this. Something has to give.”

Chelsea explained how her children were complaining of headaches and getting nose bleeds, which she worries was from the mould and damp conditions from the temporary accommodation.

“Me and my three children were placed into a hotel room in Glasgow’s city centre. It was horrendous! Three of us were living in just one room with no facilities.

“I had to wash baby bottles in the sink. There was nowhere to cook, no plates to eat food from, so every day we had to eat out. It is financially unstable. The council took our clothes to the laundrette but returned them still wet.

“The bed sheets were stained with blood. It was disgusting. We were in the middle of Glasgow and really felt unsafe.

“It’s had a horrific impact on my children, and I worry about the future impact on them. My son has significant neurodevelopmental issues; he has additional needs and he’s been out of school for three months. His school wouldn’t pay for a taxi from Glasgow city centre to his school. They wouldn’t facilitate him.

“The Government needs to do something. Something has to give. People are trapped and disabled children and women are suffering.”