A Green MSP is challenging the Scottish Government’s housing minister to clarify if the government still plans to build 50,000 new, affordable homes, as promised in its election manifesto. Kevin Stewart wrongly told a Holyrood committee yesterday that his party had only pledged to “deliver” 50,000 affordable homes. Continue reading Minister is causing confusion over new homes promise, say Greens
Continue reading “Challenging” tenants could lead to mass exodus from Edinburgh rental market
LIFT (Low Income Families Together) organised an event to give local people an opportunity to learn more about the ongoing changes to the welfare and benefits system yesterday. Around sixty people attended the Scotland’s New Social Security System: What Does It Mean for You? conference in Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre yesterday. Continue reading LIFTing the lid on Scotland’s new social security system
Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman is raising fresh concerns about the case of Shahbaz Ali, a Syrian refugee who was stabbed in an alleged racist attack in Edinburgh earlier this month.
Mr Ali has internal bleeding after collapsing while being discharged from hospital and it has now emerged that the City of Edinburgh Council has not allowed Mr Ali’s father to sign a lease on behalf of his son, nor is the Council prepared to visit Mr Ali in hospital to obtain a signature.
The property he was given is in a poor state – dirty and with only one bed and nothing else for furniture. He was promised a clean and furnished property. Mr Ali’s father wanted access to the property to tidy and furnish it, so it is a welcoming and safe environment for his son to recover in.
Andy Wightman MSP said: “It is absolutely appalling what this young man and his family have gone through in the last week.
“At last Thursday’s First Minister’s Questions, the First Minister responded to my question about the attack on Mr Ali by saying that, ‘We want Scotland to be—and to be seen to be—a refuge from war and persecution… The Scottish Government will do what we can, with the local authority in Edinburgh and other groups, to provide as much reassurance and support as possible.’ Clearly that means providing appropriate accommodation.
“However, the difficulties faced by Mr Ali’s father yesterday (Monday) suggest that the City of Edinburgh Council is failing in its duty to house vulnerable refugees. Why did Mr Ali’s father face so many unnecessary barriers when all he wanted to do was to create a safe and welcoming environment for his son to recover from this most malicious of criminal acts?
“The current systems in place to house vulnerable people, including refugees, in Edinburgh need to be rapidly re-assessed. I am shocked by reports of the treatment Mr Ali’s family received yesterday and I urge those responsible to act swiftly to uphold Mr Ali’s human rights in this situation.”
Council leader Cllr Adam McVey said yesterday that access to the flat will be available today and that the council will be doing all it can to support Mr Ali and his family.
An online fundraising appeal Shabaz Ali Appeal – Scotland Says NO To Racism has so far raised over £11,000. You can contribute at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/saynotoracism/464056
It would be good to think this story might yet have a happy ending …
Households renting in the private and social sector have been severely affected by UK Government welfare policies, according to a new report released by the Scottish Government.
The Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Housing report (below) highlights the negative effect of Universal Credit on both tenants and landlords, due to the major increase in rent arrears. In East Lothian for example, 72% of social housing tenants claiming Universal Credit were in arrears, compared to 30% of all tenants.
In addition, the UK Government’s freeze on local housing allowance rates – a benefit paid to private rental tenants – has also substantially limited households ability to afford rent on properties.
The Scottish Government funds the full mitigation of the bedroom tax, which would otherwise affect over 70,000 individuals who would lose an average of around £650 a year, as well as providing additional funding for direct mitigation of welfare reforms, wider direct support for those on low incomes and advice and other services.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Almost half a million Scottish households receive some form of financial support for their housing. It is clear that UK Government welfare cuts are having a devastating impact, with money taken from the pockets of people across the country, pushing them into crisis and debt.
“We are doing all we can, with the powers we have to protect those on low incomes from these devastating UK Government cuts – spending more than £125 million this year alone to do so. This includes £62 million to fully mitigate the ‘bedroom tax’, help for those impacted by the freeze in local housing allowance, as well as providing support for low-income households.
“This report builds on previously published evidence of the undue pressure on people that UK government changes to our welfare system are causing, including housing. We want to ensure everyone has access to a safe, warm place to call home – as part of that, the UK Government must urgently change course.”
Annual Report follow up paper – Housing and Social Security
The Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Housing report is the third in a series of reports looking at the impact of UK welfare reforms. The first report focused on the impact on families, and the second report on the impact on disabled people.
In the private sector there are limits in the maximum housing benefit payable against rent, set in relation to household size and local market rents – the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. The LHA rate was reduced as part of the coalition government welfare reform, to the 30th percentile of market rents, and has remained frozen since 2015.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s affordable housing development in Muirhouse has been short listed in the ‘Best Social Housing Initiative’ category in the MJ Local Government Awards #MJAwards18
The city council has also received a nomination in the Innovation in Communications category.
The MJ Achievement Award winners will be announced at a gala event at London’s Hilton Hotel on Park Lane on 27 June.
WEST PILTON WEST GRANTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday 8th May at 7pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre Continue reading West Pilton West Granton Community Council sets AGM date
Increased funding to ensure councils can deliver more homes
More affordable homes will be delivered across Scotland this year following a £35 million increase to council allocations, bringing it to £568 million. The increases will continue over the coming years, rising to £591 million in 2019-20 and £630 million in 2020 -21. Continue reading £568 million for affordable housing
350,000 Scottish tenants could be at risk of losing their homes as 90 percent of landlords say they will sell their rental properties if rising costs lead to them making a loss, according to a letting agent. Continue reading Scottish tenants risk losing homes as landlords feel pressure of new laws
The UK is often accused of having a ‘not in my back yard’ mentality, with research[1] by AXA showing that two thirds of respondents believe people are guilty of the ‘NIMBY’ effect. However, further investigation revealed that almost a third also understand that new developments have to happen where they live in order to keep up with demand. Continue reading UK turns away from ‘not in my back yard’ thinking
