In January 2023 a Scottish opposition party debate raised concerns that as inflation, cost of living pressures and homelessness numbers rise, the housebuilding commitment was becoming completely unachievable.
Propertymark supported calls for the Scottish Government to drastically improve how it valued the private rented sector (PRS) and tackle housing issues, such as a significant lack of new social houses, with greater urgency.
Holyrood recognises housing is a key issue
Housing has become a central priority for the Scottish Government, with First Minister Humza Yousaf stating in his Programme for Government 2023 to 2024 that his administration intends to make approximately £60 million available to councils and social landlords to buy empty and private sector houses.
Scottish Housing Minister Paul McLennan recently told the Glasgow Times that tackling homelessness is a key priority and that the Ending Homelessness Together action plan is the right strategy to end homelessness in Scotland.
The Scottish Government is making £3.5 billion available over this parliamentary term to support the delivery of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, 70% of which will be for social rent and £538 million of that will be available for Glasgow.
Additional measures announced included working with social landlords to boost allocations to homeless households and providing national guidance for local authorities to support good practices around changing temporary accommodation into permanent and affordable homes.
SNP policy on housing continues to evolve, and we hope that they will take the opportunity of their 2023 annual conference to explain how they intend to deliver their ambitious housing vision for Scotland.
