Hansard

The Convener Green

We turn to agenda item 3, under which we will take evidence on the Scottish Housing Regulator’s “Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23” from George Walker, who ...

George Walker (Scottish Housing Regulator)

Thank you very much, convener. I might take a minute or so more on my opening statement this time than I have done previously, because so much has gone on si...

The Convener Green

Thank you very much for that very thorough introduction and for getting into some of the detail about homelessness. Thank you, too, for highlighting your awa...

George Walker

I am happy to take that. I will start, and Michael Cameron might want to add something. It is a very sensible question. There is no doubt in our minds that ...

The Convener Green

It is very helpful to hear that that is your approach. You spoke extensively about the thematic review of homelessness, and you covered part of the question...

George Walker

Michael, do you want to take that?

Michael Cameron (Scottish Housing Regulator)

Yes, I am happy to pick that up. As you said, in February, we published our thematic report on homelessness services in Scotland, in which we flagged the ve...

The Convener Green

Is the issue the same across all 14 of the councils concerned, or is it nuanced? Is it really just about a lack of housing stock? 10:30

Michael Cameron

We looked across six different aspects of performance and statistics for each of the councils. For example, we looked at breaches of the unsuitable accommoda...

The Convener Green

I will bring in Pam Gosal for a supplementary question.

Pam Gosal Con

Thank you, convener. Good morning, panel. I have two supplementary questions. You mentioned 14 councils. Three councils have declared a housing emergency so ...

Michael Cameron

We set out very clearly that we consider that there has been systemic failure in provision of services to homeless people. Language such as “housing emergenc...

Pam Gosal Con

Thank you for that response, but councils are going through really challenging times. I have, over the past couple of weeks, had the opportunity to speak to ...

Michael Cameron

Our role is to regulate individual landlords, including local authorities. That said, we engage with the Scottish Government on the wider systemic situation....

Pam Gosal Con

Thank you.

Willie Coffey SNP

Good morning to you both. I will follow up on Pam Gosal’s point. After this item with you guys, we will discuss a paper that tells us that, in Scotland, ther...

Michael Cameron

Many of those empty houses are, obviously, not in the social rented sector, so there is an imperative to understand where those homes are and how quickly and...

Willie Coffey SNP

Do you track the important figures, such as the number of long-term empties in the social rented sector that are being allocated to people who are temporaril...

Michael Cameron

We monitor landlords’ performance in letting and management of empty homes, and we produce annual statistics on that. We are in conversation with the Scottis...

Willie Coffey SNP

That is really helpful, Michael. Thank you very much for that. George, in your remarks and in response to questions, you made really positive comments about...

George Walker

I have some information to give you. I probably do not have specific numbers to hand, but I can provide you with more data. What I am about to say is maybe m...

Willie Coffey SNP

Again, that is really helpful. The only other thing that occurs to me to ask is this: if the median rent rise is below inflation, will that have any impact o...

George Walker

Michael Cameron might have something to say specifically on retrofit. I do not, at the front of my mind, but I touched on the idea of reinvesting in existing...

Michael Cameron

Yes. Specifically on retrofit to tackle energy efficiency and net zero, George is right that the financial projections show a reduction in planned investment...

Willie Coffey SNP

Thank you, Michael. George Walker anticipated my last question and almost answered it. You obviously have second sight and know what I am going to ask. The ...

George Walker

We hear a mixed economy, if you like, of answers on that. There is a flow through from two things. First is the availability of the services and providers fo...

Willie Coffey SNP

George Walker mentioned a figure for loss of income due to lost rent. Was it £38 million or around that?

George Walker

It was £38.7 million, I think, just to be clear.

Willie Coffey SNP

Can landlords attempt to recoup that?

George Walker

That is the cost of lost rental while properties sit empty, which they do for an average period of 56 days now, as I said.