01 December 2006
Scotland's traditional dependence on social rented housing is set to change dramatically over the next 14 years, the body representing the housing profession has predicted.
A report on the future of the sector, published by the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland on November 27 suggested that social rented housing might accommodate 8% of households by 2020, compared with just over 26% at the moment.
The report, The future for social renting in Scotland, said people living in social rented housing in future are likely to be young single adult households and those with some form of support need. This would represent a major shift from the days when the household types found in the social rented sector mirrored the mix of households in general, the CIH states.
CIH Scotland chair John Mills said the report sounded a number of warnings, some of which were bleak, and highlighted a number of challenges for the future. He added: 'The report is a wake-up call to get the housing sector and the Scottish Executive working together to plan out the best future for the sector.'
Mills said social rented housing was now largely perceived to be only for people in the greatest housing needs. Most people now had a preference for owner occupation and social rented housing was feeling the effects of that.
A reduction in the amount of social rented housing and the way it was allocated on need had further reduced the sector's ability to cater for everyone, Mills added. He said the sector was now accommodating more people living in poverty.
A reduction in the number of social rented housing and the requirement to allocate it based on peoples' needs had further reduced the ability of the sector to cater for everyone, Mills added. He said the sector was now accommodating more and more people living in poverty.
Mean time, the Scottish Executive's housing transfer policy has received a major setback. Highland Council last week became the fourth successive authority to have transfer plans rejected by tenants.
The plans, if approved, would have wiped out the council's housing debt of £160m and funded a £450m investment programme. The four other areas rejecting transfer are Edinburgh, Stirling and Renfrewshire.
PFdec2006
