Housing

The Scottish Government reduced the funding from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in the 2024-25 budget by around £200m which was between 22-26%, following a huge backlash where housing plans stopped or stalled they did re-instate some of the funding but even now the funding hasn’t in real terms increased beyond where it was prior to the cut announced in 2023. Currently we are seeing different standards of of social housing being given to  tenants, where the new builds are offering higher standards of finish, room sizes etc, often referred to as the Gold standard, higher standards than seen in main stream housing, whilst on the other end of the social housing we see tenant in damp, mouldy, poorly insulated housing. Local Councils are trying to build houses for people on the waiting list, improve their older stock, make decisions whether it is better to demolition and build new than to refurbish. The rate that they are able to achieve everything is hampered by funding, ability to recruit, train and retain. Some local councils have partnerships with private building companies to build out their new housing, they have contracts with other companies to help carry out repairs in houses which are currently unoccupied, this will allow the houses to be rented out more quickly.

The solution:

1.We need more funding for housing repairs and apprenticeships. We need to be able to retain our apprentices so we must ensure we can compete on our salary package with the private sector. Continue to work with private companies to deliver the repairs and upgrade programme meaning the standard of our older stock is better and tenants are not living in poor quality housing for extended periods where it is highly likely to affects their physical and mental health. Demolition of large numbers of housing should be the last resort, as you are not only destroying housing but also communities which often have a strong identity and a support network of family, friends, and community services. From an environmental impact it is better to be able to upgrade housing than to demolition.

2. We need to use the Silver standards to build too which won’t reduce the quality of the build and would keep us aligned with main stream housing standards, allowing us to build more houses, giving more people a place to call home, whilst working from the same funding envelope.

3. Ensure funding is available to keep the public areas, footpaths and roads is a good general condition. If people have a nice environment they generally feel happier and safe.