Lovell Partnerships has marked the start of an exciting new housing development in Midlothian with a sod cutting ceremony.
The event took place at the Oakwood Edge site, near Dalkeith, to officially celebrate the beginning of construction at the eagerly anticipated Lovell development.
Oakwood Edge will offer a range of stunning new two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes, with 39 of the homes to be provided for social use by Melville Housing Association, on the land owned by Lovell.
The new homes will make a significant contribution towards tackling the housing shortage in the local area.
Donna Bogdanovic, Chair of Melville Housing Association, officially broke the ground at the event, which was attended by staff from Lovell, Melville Housing Association, and Hardies Property and Construction Consultants.
Oakwood Edge is ideally located, close to Dalkeith, Newtongrange, and Mayfield, and will enjoy considerable local amenities, as well as easy access to Edinburgh.
A play park and an art installation will also form part of the new development, in line with Lovell Partnerships’ commitment to providing community benefits and social value where it builds.
This development will be one of the first to benefit from Lovell energy efficient homes, helping to reduce the heating and lighting bills for the Melville Housing Association residents.
Lovell thanks all its partners who joined in to mark this crucial stage at Oakwood Edge and expresses its excitement at the prospect of bringing these key homes to the area.
Sarah Freel, Head of Partnerships at Lovell, said:“Oakwood Edge is an incredibly exciting development for Lovell and our partners, so it was wonderful to see the ceremonial first shovel going into the ground on it.
“As a partnership housebuilder, we’re delighted to be working with Melville Housing Association to deliver this development. Oakwood Edge is an example of how partnership working can benefit communities and the local economy, whilst creating numerous jobs and training opportunities.
“I’d like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in this sod cutting ceremony and thank them for their continued dedication to making Oakwood Edge a great place for families to live.”
Donna Bogdanovic, Chair of Melville Housing Association, said:“It was my pleasure to take part in the sod cutting for Oakwood Edge which marks the continuation of a productive relationship between Melville and Lovell that began more than 15 years ago.
“This exciting opportunity, made possible thanks to Scottish Government funding and support from Midlothian Council, will allow us to help some of those on Midlothian’s huge social housing waiting list who are desperately waiting for a quality affordable home.
“On behalf of everyone at Melville Housing Association, I would like to say just how much we’re looking forward to following the progress of this exciting project and, when the time comes, welcoming tenants to the Oakwood Edge development.”
A pilot project to radically improve residents’ homes in an area with high levels of poverty has been hailed by the Housing Minister.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s three-year Mixed Tenure Improve Plan is directing £30m towards boosting the sustainability of homes and comfort of residents across the Murrayburn, Hailesland and Dumbryden estates in Wester Hailes.
Measures being installed in Wester Hailes are revolutionising the energy efficiency of these properties, resulting in warmer homes, reduced fuel bills, and significantly lower carbon emissions.
Two years in, over 900 hundred homes have been upgraded, benefitting over 670 council tenants and 230 private residents in the first eight phases of work. Phases 9 to 11 will be completed by the end of 2024.
Following a visit to a recently renovated estate at Murrayburn Park, where 84 homes have benefited from the pilot, Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “I was delighted to see first-hand the work of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Mixed Tenure Improvement Service programme, which is making homes more energy efficient so that people are able to live in good quality, warm homes.
“The Scottish Government has provided £36.9 million of funding to the City of Edinburgh Council to fund initiatives like this one in Wester Hailes. This is part of a £1.8 billion investment during this parliamentary term to transform the heat and energy efficiency of homes throughout Scotland and help people with their energy bills.
“High quality housing is a key pillar of Housing to 2040. I am delighted to see the benefits these home improvements will have for residents in Edinburgh.”
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said:What a transformation and a shining example of the work our officers are doing to make hundreds of homes warmer, greener and better inside and out. It just goes to show what we can jointly achieve when we have the funding we so desperately need.
“It has been fantastic to see the effect this ground-breaking initiative is having. The work we’ve put in to this pilot is clearly welcomed by local residents, including many of our own tenants, and will have a lasting impact on the community.
“Edinburgh is quite unique in the amount of shared housing we have, with many blocks and estates benefitting from a mix of privately owned homes, rented properties and social housing. This project has already increased the lifespan of many of these buildings so that everyone living here now and in the future benefits.”
Residents of the housing estates which have already benefitted from the pilot have reported experiencing warmer, more comfortable homes and a noticeable decrease in their energy bills.
One local tenant said:“The neighbourhood feels refreshed and brighter, and homes feel warmer.
Another resident laughed, telling us that his daughter gave him a row for having his heating on, when he didn’t. He felt that the works have improved the heat in his home noticeably.
One tenant told us that she did not switch on her heating at all last winter, saying she thought she had saved about 80% off her heating bills.
One key initiative has involved installing cutting-edge insulation technologies. The Council has successfully minimised heat loss from homes, helping them to remain warm and comfortable during colder months.
Other upgrades include new roofs, new common windows, new main doors and door entry systems and decoration of common stairs.
Owners of short-term let properties are being urged to apply for a licence under Scotland’s short-term licensing scheme before the 1 October 2023 deadline.
Short-term let hosts must apply for a licence with their relevant local authority before the deadline. Anyone who operated a short-term let before 1 October 2022 can still accept bookings and guests until an application is determined, but must apply before the 1 October 2023 deadline. Owners who started operations after 1 October 2022 cannot begin trading until they receive their licence.
Hosts must apply for a licence with the local authority their property is located and are being urged to check local criteria before making an application.
Local councils’ licensing schemes are in operation across Scotland and many short-term let hosts have already obtained licences.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Short-term let accommodation plays an important role in Scotland’s economy, supporting our tourism and hospitality sector and allowing tourists and holiday goers somewhere to take them closer to the best that Scotland can offer.
“However, it is also important that there is appropriate regulation in place to ensure the safety of guests, and so that local authorities can make decisions that are right for their local areas. That is why the Scottish Government has introduced the short-term lets licensing scheme.
“I would like to thank those who have already signed up to the scheme, bringing assurances to tourists that their safety is paramount and that they have met local guidelines.
“Visitors coming to Scotland can already expect to see the benefits of properties being licensed and meeting specific standards. Meanwhile, the thousands of short-term let operators who provide a quality service can have the assurance that would-be competitors have to meet licensing standards as well.
“There is only two months to go until the 1 October deadline and so I would urge anyone who owns short-term let accommodation and has yet to apply to do so as soon as possible to ensure you can still take bookings and welcome guests from far and wide.”
Short Stay St Andrews Director Jordan Mitchell said: “As the largest holiday letting agency in St Andrews and the East Neuk, the initial thought of an application process for short-term letting our 130+ managed properties was a daunting one.
“However, the application process has been plain sailing once we had all the required safety certification in place.
“Fife Council has been extremely supportive in its quest to process the applications despite the extra pressure on its systems.
“I can only recommend applying as soon as possible to give your business plenty of time to adjust to the new Scottish Government requirements.”
Owners have until 1 October 2023 to apply for a short-term lets licence, with local authorities required to process applications by 1 October 2024.
Barratt Developments is on track to deliver 270 new affordable homes across Edinburgh and the Lothians this year.
Cammo Meadows in Edinburgh, Leith’s Merchant Quay and St Clair Mews in Roslin, will all benefit from affordable housing this year, with a total of 270 homes earmarked for the region.
Barratt Developments – which consists of Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes – is working closely with affordable housing providers and local authorities to construct much needed new homes for both mid-market and social rent as part of its East of Scotland developments. The delivery includes a wide range of homes on each site in order to best meet the affordable need in the area.
Harbour Homes has been working in partnership with the housebuilder and recently completed 43 mid-market and social rent properties at Merchant Quay. These will consist of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Meanwhile, Places for People recently delivered 114 properties at Cammo Meadows in partnership with Barratt, which includes one and two-bedroom flats and three-bed terraces.
On the outskirts of the city in Midlothian, 53 social rent properties are in development with Midlothian Council. Due for completion this autumn, these will include two-bed cottage flats and a mix of three-bedroom semi-detached and terraced homes.
Cammo Meadows also has also completed 50 apartments and terraces for sale through Edinburgh Council’s Golden Share Scheme, while Merchant Quay development has recently completed 10 Golden Share homes. The scheme consists of homes which are sold at 80% of their market value, while buyers still own 100% of the property.
While a significant number of plots have already completed, all properties will be ready to move into by October.
Cllr Stuart McKenzie, Midlothian Cabinet member with responsibility for Housing, said: “There is a real and growing need for affordable homes in Midlothian. “
Midlothian Council is currently active on 13 sites, building 552 Council homes for our communities. Working in partnership with developers is an important source of new affordable housing and we are delighted to have contracted Barratt to build 53 homes for us at Roslin.
“This mix of flats and houses with two and three bedrooms are due to be delivered ahead of schedule.”
Heather Kiteley, Group Chief Executive of Harbour Homes, said:“We are pleased to have been part of this rewarding partnership which has created 43 new affordable homes in Leith, transforming disused brownfield sites into thriving communities.
“Demand for social and mid-market rent homes in the north of the city is especially high, and we are committed to providing brilliant places to live where they are needed most.”
Katie Smart, Director at Places for People Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Barratt Homes at Cammo Meadows in Edinburgh.
“At Places for People, we work to change lives by creating and supporting thriving communities and Cammo Meadows is no exception. Working with Barratt Homes we are thrilled to bring 114 new much-needed affordable homes to the area.”
Nick Wright, Development Directorat Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said:“Barratt and David Wilson have a strong track record in delivering affordable homes in the east of Scotland.
“This year alone, we are incredibly proud to be able to deliver 270 affordable homes across our Edinburgh and Lothian developments in partnership with our housing association and local authority partners.
“At Barratt Developments, we’re committed to building quality homes across the breadth of the country, including our East Scotland developments. These affordable homes will enhance the lives of those within the local community by creating modern, energy efficient accommodation in desirable locations.”
For more information on Barratt Developments in Scotland, visit:
It is a challenging time for renters, with rental prices rocketing and demand far outweighing supply – a recent study revealed that for every 100 rental ads in Scotland, 197 people are looking for a room to rent.
And while renters face greater financial hurdles, they are also dealing with more problems with landlords. According to the UK Housing Ombudsman, landlords were issued a record number of complaint handling failure orders between July and September 2022, a 105% increase on the previous quarter.
With this in mind, Online Mortgage Advisor wanted to discover where in the UK and the wider world tenants are most and least satisfied with their landlords. They found that renters in both Glasgow and Edinburgh are some of the most dissatisfied in the UK, despite the implementation of rental controls in Scotland.
How did we do it?
We analysed 276,000 rent-related geotagged tweets across the UK, US, and Europe, as well as other OECD nations, using an academic tool called SentiStrength.
SentiStrength is an AI tool which detects positive and negative sentiment levels in short pieces of text and assigns them a score from 5 (extremely positive) to -5 (extremely negative).
Belfastis the UK city with the highest proportion of dissatisfied renters with 43.5% of tweets analysed recorded as negative, followed by Glasgow (41.7%) and Bradford(38.7%).
Edinburgh came in at number 7 with 36.1%, meaning two Scottish cities appear in the top 10.
The UK ranked 9th overall in the list of OECD countries with 34.8% tweets deemed as negative out of those surveyed, with Sweden, Denmark and Irelandoccupying the top three spots.
The most commonly mentioned words in negative tweets about rent were: “people”, “money” and “time”.
Renters in Glasgow and Edinburgh amongst the most dissatisfied in the UK
Using the academic tool SentiStrength, Online Mortgage Advisor analysed 276,000 geotagged tweets related to renting to find out which cities had the least satisfied renters.
Belfast, is the city with the most dissatisfied renters in the country with 43.5%of all rent-related tweets being recorded as negative.
Glasgow, ranks 2nd with 41.7% of tweets made by renters in the area being recorded as negative.
Edinburgh came in at number 7 with 36.1%.
This means that two Scottish cities appear in the top 10 of our analysis, despite Scotland implementing a rent freeze at 0% from September 2022 until March 2023. The Scottish government then increased this to a cap of 3% in most instances from April 2023. Find the ranking below:
UK cities which are least satisfied with their rental experiences
Rank
City
Negative tweets (%)
1
Belfast
43.5%
2
Glasgow
41.7%
3
Bradford
38.7%
4
Bristol
38.3%
5
Brighton & Hove
37.4%
6
Sheffield
36.5%
7
Edinburgh
36.1%
8
Nottingham
35.9%
8
Plymouth
35.9%
10
Birmingham
35.2%
The most common rental grievances
We found it was ‘people’ that tenants take issue with most frequently, with 60 mentions for every 1,000 tweets. Issues range from landlords turning up unannounced to fellow tenants failing to pay their share of the rent and never taking the bins out. The second and third most commonly listed complaints referred to ‘money’ and ‘time’.
Here are a few of the issues people have voiced on twitter:
East Lothian is authority with highest average price
Transaction levels are second lowest of last ten years
Average Scottish house price £224,033, up 1.2% on April, up 1.9% annually
Table 1. Average House Prices in Scotland for the period May 2022 – May 2023
Scott Jack, Regional Development Director at Walker Fraser Steele, comments:“Our data shows that the Scottish housing market has seen another increase in average prices for the second month in succession.
“The average house price has risen in the month by some £2,600, or 1.2%, the largest increase since March 2022. The average house price in Scotland now stands at £224,033, which is £4,125, or 1.9%, higher than twelve months earlier.
“This strength of performance has to be seen in the context of broader market trends. Affordability has become the key issue in mortgage lending and is impacting would-be buyers. Inflation continues to loom over the UK and higher interest rates are an inevitability which makes the resilience of the Scottish market all the more remarkable. The squeeze on borrowers will continue and lenders have already sign-posted a contraction in the supply of mortgage loans over the coming months.
“We can see how affordability is impacting the market in the demand and subsequent price rises attributed to flats. Flats have increased in average price over the month by 3.8%, with semis and terraced properties both seeing a 1.5% increase. They now offer better value to buyers after months of subdued growth.”
Commentary: John Tindale, Acadata Senior Housing Analyst
The May housing market
Scotland’s housing market in May has shown a further increase in average prices, despite the economic headwinds of higher interest rates, increased consumer inflation and diminishing affordability. The average house price has risen in the month by some £2,600, or 1.2%, the largest increase since March 2022. Scotland’s average house price now stands at £224,033, which is £4,125, or 1.9%, higher than twelve months earlier. It also establishes a new record price for Scotland as a whole.
Figure 1. Scotland’s average house price for the period from March 2020 to May 2023
Figure 1 shows the movement in average house prices in Scotland from March 2020 – at the start of the pandemic, when the price was £183,017 – to May 2023. This amounted to an increase of £41,000, or 22.4%, over the period, and compares to an increase of 17.8% in the CPIH Index – so in real terms (after allowing for consumer price inflation) the average house price in Scotland has risen by 4.6%.
Scotland is not alone in seeing prices rise in May – the same pattern was also present in the North East of England, where prices rose by 0.9% in the month. The average house price in the North East is £202,491, which is the lowest of all the nine GOR regions in England and in Wales, with the Welsh average price now standing at £241,994. Scotland’s house price is the second lowest of all countries and regions in Great Britain.
Scotland has not been immune to the high rates of interest and the significant cost of living increases. As is shown on page 7, transaction levels in 2023 have fallen to their second lowest since 2013. The lowest level of the last ten years was observed in 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic.
Unlike April 2023, when the increase in prices was concentrated in the high-value local authority areas in Scotland, the increase in values in May 2023 has been spread more evenly across the country. For example, of the £2,623 increase in the average price in the month at the national level, £1,343 originates from the top 16 local authority areas by value, and £1,280 from the lowest 16 areas by value – hardly a significant difference.
There has been a change in emphasis in May between property types, which is contra to recent experience. Flats have increased in average price over the month by 3.8%, with semis and terraced properties both seeing a 1.5% increase. On the other hand, detached properties have seen a -0.4% fall in average prices. This would explain the more even price increases across the local authority areas in Scotland in May, as flats are more universally spread throughout the country.
Local Authority Analysis
Table 2. Average House Prices in Scotland, by local authority area, comparing May 2022, April 2023 and May 2023
Table 2 above shows the average house price and percentage change (over the last month and year) by Local Authority Area for May 2022, as well as for April and May 2023, calculated on a seasonal and mix-adjusted basis. The ranking in Table 2 is based on the local authority area’s average house price for May 2023. Local Authority areas shaded in blue experienced record average house prices in May 2023.
Annual change
The average house price in Scotland in May 2023 has increased by £4,125 – or 1.9% – over the last twelve months. This annual rate of growth has increased by 0.3% from April’s 1.6%, and is the second consecutive upward movement in the annual rate of growth in 2023.
In May 2023, 20 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland were seeing their average prices rise above the levels of twelve months earlier, one more than in April. Interestingly, only three of the top eleven areas ranked by value had price falls over the year, whereas six of the bottom eleven areas ranked by value saw prices fall. These statistics are less dramatic than in April 2023, when the numbers showed only two high-value areas and eight low-value areas with price falls. There is hence still a split between the behaviour of the high- and low-value areas, but it is less of a feature than previously experienced. For the record, the three high-value areas with price falls are East Dunbartonshire (-5.5%), Edinburgh (-1.6%) and Stirling (-0.6%).
The area with the highest annual increase in average house prices in May 2023 was – top of Table 2 – East Lothian, up by 10.9%. All property types in East Lothian, except flats, have seen an increase in their average prices over the last twelve months, with this month’s overall average being enhanced by the sale of a four-bedroom detached property in Gullane, for £1.275 million. The property overlooks the six-hole Children’s Golf Course – any child can play on the course at a minimal cost. Adults are also welcome to play, but they must be accompanied by a child.
On a weight-adjusted basis – which incorporates both the change in prices and the number of transactions involved – there were five local authority areas in May which accounted for 51% of the £4,125 increase in Scotland’s average house price over the year. The five areas, in descending order of influence, are: – East Lothian (13%); East Renfrewshire (11%); Perth and Kinross (10%); Fife (9%); and Renfrewshire (8%). Edinburgh accounted for 38% of the price falls in May, with all property types seeing values fall over the year.
Monthly change
In May 2023, Scotland’s average house price rose in the month by some £2,600, or 1.2%. The increase in the month is the highest since March 2022, some 14 months earlier. In May 2023, 24 of the 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland experienced rising prices in the month, four more than in April. Of the 24 local authorities with price increases in May, 11 are in the top half when ranked by price, and 13 in the lower half.
The largest increase in average prices in the month was in Inverclyde, up by 11.4%. However, Inverclyde has the second-lowest transaction count on the mainland, which tends to result in volatile movements in its average prices, especially when expressed in percentage terms. In second place is Dundee City, where prices have risen by 4.4% in the month. This increase was assisted by the sale of a new-build 3-bedroom detached home in Broughty Ferry for £1.2 million.
On a weight-adjusted basis, similar to that described above, the five local authorities which accounted for 47% of the increase in prices in the month were:- Glasgow (14%); Perth and Kinross (11%), East Lothian (10%) Inverclyde (6%) and Dundee City (6%). The Perth average prices are elevated this month by the sale of Glencarse House, which the agents describe as being one of Perthshire’s finest Country Houses. It has ten bedrooms and 18.6 acres of land. It sold for £2.35 million.
Peak Prices
Each month, in Table 2 above, the local authority areas which have reached a new record in their average house prices are highlighted in light blue. In May 2023, there are 5 such authorities, down from 7 seen in April. 3 of these 5 areas are in the bottom 10 authorities when ranked by price, with 2 in the top 10 – including East Lothian which is currently top of Table 2. Also of interest is that Scotland’s overall average price is similarly at a record price – for the first time in the last six months.
Scotland transactions of £750k or higher
Table 3. The number of transactions by month in Scotland greater than or equal to £750k, January 2015 – May 2023
Table 3 shows the number of transactions per month in Scotland which are equal to or greater than £750k. The threshold of £750k has been selected as it is the breakpoint at which the highest rate of LBTT becomes payable.
There were 43 such transactions recorded by RoS relating to May 2023. Currently, this is the fourth highest May total recorded to date, but this may rise to third place as RoS continues to process additional sales.
Looking at the number of high-value properties sold in the first four months of each year in Table 3, 2023 is ranked in fourth place – although the March totals in 2015 and 2021 are perhaps artificially high, having been boosted by tax-related events – these were the introduction of the LBTT in place of SDLT in April 2015 and the ending of the Covid related LBTT tax-holiday in April 2021.
However, there is a clear trend, in that the totals in each of the first five months of 2023 are lower than those in 2022, suggesting that some of the enthusiasm that existed in the 2022 housing market for the purchase of large country homes has dissipated, except perhaps in Perthshire (see above).
Edinburgh accounts for 137 of the 309 high-value sales (44%) that have been recorded to date by RoS in 2023, compared to 48% in 2022. There are two local authority areas having an equal second-highest number of sales in excess of £750k in 2023 – these were Glasgow City and East Lothian, but with just 18 such sales apiece.
Transactions analysis
Figure 2 below shows the monthly transaction count for purchases during the period from January 2015 to May 2023, based on RoS (Registers of Scotland) figures for the Date of Entry (except for May 2023, which is based on RoS Application Dates).
The chart shows how, in general, transactions in May are higher than in April as sales climb to a summer peak, which can occur in June, July or August. In fact, in Figure 2, May is higher than April in eight of the nine years displayed – the one exception being 2022, as the country was slowly emerging from the pandemic.
2023 (the black line) has the second-lowest number of transactions for the first five months of each of the nine years shown in Figure 2, at 34,075 sales. The lowest year, at 25,324 sales, is 2020 (the teal line) – March 2020 having been the month in which the first Covid lockdown was announced. The decline in the current year’s level of transactions compared to previous years appears to have begun from having the second-highest number of sales in September 2022, falling to the lowest of the nine years by January 2023.
The start of the reduction in sales coincided with both the arrival of Mrs Truss as Prime Minister on 6 September 2022 and the seventh increase since December 2021 of the official bank rate, to 2.25%, on 22 September 2022. Liz Truss departed as Prime Minister on 25 October 2022. The bank rate was further increased on 3 November and 15 December 2022, ending the year at 3.5%.
The bank rate was raised again on 2 February 2023, 23 March 2023, 11 May 2023 and 22 June 2023, and now stands at 5.0%. It would thus appear that the increase in mortgage costs, especially since September 2022, has been having a negative effect on the number of housing sales taking place each month in Scotland’s housing market.
Figure 2. The number of sales per month recorded by RoS based on entry date from 2015 – 2023
Heat Map
The heat map below shows the rate of house price growth for the 12 months ending May 2023. As reported above, 20 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland have seen a rise in their average property values over the last year.
The highest increase on the mainland over the twelve months to May 2023 was in East Lothian, up by 10.9%, followed by East Renfrewshire at 10.7% and the Scottish Borders at 8.8%. At the other end of the scale, it was Clackmannanshire that had the largest fall in prices over the previous twelve months at -6.2%.
Comparisons with Scotland
Figure 3. Scotland house prices, compared with England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005-May 2023
Figure 4. A comparison of the annual change in house prices in Scotland, England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2020–May 2023
Scotland’s Eight Cities
Figure 5. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities from March 2022–May 2023
Figure 6. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities May 2023
Efforts to reduce the number of households living in temporary accommodation will be backed by at least £60 million to support a national acquisition plan to increase the supply of social and affordable housing.
The funding will support councils and registered social landlords to purchase properties including empty homes and private sector homes.
Other measures to reduce temporary accommodation will include working with social landlords to increase allocations to homeless households and providing national guidance for local authorities to support good practice around changing temporary accommodation into permanent affordable homes.
Bespoke plans to address specific issues will also be developed with the local authorities with the greatest temporary accommodation pressures.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Housing is crucial to achieving our aspirations of a fairer country.
“We recognise the varying challenges that exist across Scotland and that these cannot be addressed by a single solution.
“That is why the range of actions we will be taking, including our £60 million plan, will help us effect real change.
“A great deal of consideration has been given to the best way to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation. I am thankful to members of the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group and all its contributors for the role they played in shaping the final recommendations.”
John Mills, Co-Chair of ALACHO and joint chair of the Task and Finish Group, said: “We’re heartened by the Scottish Government’s recognition of the seriousness of the current situation, the damage that is being done to many families living in temporary accommodation for long periods and the increasing challenges councils are facing in meeting their needs.
“We’re particularly pleased by the commitment to a national acquisitions programme to bring more homes into social renting quickly and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government, COSLA and Shelter Scotland to recapture the momentum towards ending homeless that we had pre-pandemic.”
Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland and co-chair of the Temporary Accommodation Task & Finish Group, said: “Scotland is experiencing a housing emergency that is ruining lives. By being here today, the First Minister is showing that he is serious about this emergency.
“At Shelter Scotland, we see the impact of our broken and biased housing system in the work we do with families and individuals trapped in temporary accommodation. When a system isn’t working it is those groups most marginalised – children, disabled people and minoritised ethnic groups – that feel the impact the most.
“That is why I was so honoured to co-chair this expert group which engaged directly with people experiencing homelessness. They identified three key priorities for the Scottish Government. Firstly, buy and build more homes to deal with the current emergency; secondly, prioritise the homes we have for people experiencing homelessness; and finally, fully-fund high-quality services that always treat people with dignity.
“Today’s announcement is the first step in the right direction to bring down the number of households in temporary accommodation from its current record high. It must not be the last.”
Almost 1,200 long-term homes are being brought back into use for those fleeing the war in Ukraine through an innovative approach.
The Scottish Government’s £50 million Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund supports Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords to improve properties that are currently void.
The fund was launched in September 2022 following a successful pilot and has so far provided 14 approved projects with £23 million of grant funding, helping to bring 1,168 homes back into use.
Almost 1,000 Ukrainian people are already living in 450 of these refurbished homes. A further 225 homes have been completed and are in the process of being tenanted.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced the latest figures on a visit to see progress at a housing site in Edinburgh.
More than 1,100 void homes across Scotland are being brought back into use for Ukrainians through @scotgov funding.
Social Justice Secretary @S_A_Somerville visited Leith to see a house in the process of being refurbished.
Ms Somerville said: “We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and are determined to do all we can to help those who wish to build their life here in Scotland.
“Our innovative £50 million programme provides a vital lifeline for those fleeing the war by providing long-term and secure accommodation through reclaimed empty homes. I am proud that Scotland has been able to play its part and pleased to see us reach and surpass the crucial milestone of 1,000 homes for displaced Ukrainians.
“We have been able to house hundreds of families and individuals in safe accommodation so far and we will continue to work closely with councils and housing associations as we build on this excellent progress.”
City of Edinburgh Council Housing, Homelessness, and Fair Work Convener, Councillor Jane Meagher said: “We are proud to continue our support of displaced Ukrainians, and are committed to assisting those making their new lives here in Edinburgh and beyond.
“The £50 million programme to refit currently empty properties is very much welcomed and will make a positive difference to many families. The approximately 100 homes in Edinburgh that will benefit from the programme will initially be used to house displaced Ukrainians, before ultimately being returned to our council housing stock. Without the support of the programme it is unlikely we would have been able to bring these properties back into use for some time.
“However, it is important that we remember the scale of the housing challenges our residents currently face, not just in Edinburgh but across Scotland.
“We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and our other partners as we move forward.”
In September 2022, following a successful pilot, the Scottish Government launched the £50 million Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund. The Fund was designed to offer displaced people of Ukraine, settled accommodation for up to three years.
To date, the Scottish Government has provided 14 projects with almost £23 million in grant funding which has helped to bring back almost 1,200 homes. The fund remains open for applications.
The latest published data on the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme including the Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor Scheme. The data shows as at 4 July there were:
24,962 total arrivals into the UK with a sponsor located in Scotland, of which 20,022 have come under the Super Sponsor scheme.
38,304 applications under the Super Sponsor scheme.
32,601 visas issued under the Super Sponsor scheme.
A Public Meeting will take place next Monday (17th July) in Muirhouse Millennium Centre to address mould/dampness problems in council and housing association properties in the area.
Ukrainians in the UK will be helped into their own homes as part of a £150 million funding allocation.
The funding will be divided across the UK according to the number of Ukrainians in each nation: c.£109 million for England, c.£30 million for Scotland, c.£8 million for Wales and around c.£2 million to Northern Ireland.
Funding can be used by councils to help Ukrainian families into the private rental sector, help them get jobs, and continue sponsorship for guests’ second year in the UK.
Local authorities are best placed to understand the support needed for local communities and, within England, this funding will be used to help people remain in their current accommodation or find alternative housing, including in the private rented sector.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme has welcomed over 124,000 Ukrainians to the UK, with almost half of working-age nationals now in employment and settled into their local areas, having had the right to work, receive benefits and access public services from day one.
The Department for Transport has also announced it will extend the length of time Ukrainian refugees can drive in the UK on their home country driving licence, from one year to three, in a move that will help many continue the lives and jobs they have forged since arriving here.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan said: “The UK has an honourable tradition of offering shelter to those fleeing the horrors of war. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of hosts in this country, over 124,000 Ukrainians have now found safety in the UK.
“Sadly, the fighting in Ukraine shows no sign of ending soon, so we are appealing for more people to become hosts while providing councils with this additional funding to support guests into long-term housing.”
Petro Rewko from The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain said: “Ukrainians everywhere are grateful to the government and the British people for opening their homes and hearts to Ukrainians fleeing their homes as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“We welcome today’s announcement, which recognises the commitment of sponsors and local authorities during difficult economic times and will provide additional support and reassurance to Ukrainian families as they rebuild their lives and seek to overcome the trauma of war.”
The UK government will continue to work with the Ukrainian government, the devolved administrations, local authorities and charities and voluntary groups to support guests and sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
The government is keen to ensure that Ukrainian guests receive the support they are entitled to while they are in the UK, and are helped into employment and long-term suitable accommodation, as soon as possible.
Hosts in the UK will continue to receive a monthly £350 thank-you payment during guests’ first 12 months, rising to £500 a month during the following 12 months.
