Meeting of the Parliament 13 November 2024
This is a good opportunity to give another further update on the Housing (Scotland) Bill in the chamber, because although addressing the housing emergency is not confined to measures in primary legislation, they are an important part of that work. Dealing with the housing emergency obviously extends to much more than just legislation.
The Government declared a housing emergency to move past the debating of definitions and move on to focused actions. Since that declaration, we have worked with local authorities to boost the supply of affordable housing. We have worked closely with those who received the biggest share of the additional £40 million that was committed to the affordable housing supply programme to bring into use or acquire existing properties that can be delivered this year. We will utilise this year’s almost £600 million budget by progressing affordable housing approvals and site starts, and we have published a dedicated delivery plan so that planning plays its full part in addressing the housing emergency.
Having listened to representations, we have responded by confirming the rent cap that will underpin our approach to rent control under the Housing (Scotland) Bill, bringing certainty to that sector.
Introduced in March, the bill proposes a reform package to help ensure that people have a safe, secure and affordable place to live. The bill will help to end homelessness and strengthen tenants’ rights. It will also address long-term factors, helping Scotland to address the housing emergency.