The Scottish government has committed to investing \u00a34.9 billion in the next four years to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30, as part of its \u2018Housing Emergency Action Plan.<\/p>\n
This should provide homes for up to 24,000 children.<\/p>\n
This year investment in property acquisitions will double to \u00a380 million, which should take an estimated 600-800 children out of temporary accommodation.<\/p>\n
M\u00e0iri McAllan, cabinet secretary for housing, told the Scottish Parliament: \u201cTackling the housing emergency will be a cornerstone in our efforts to achieve the Scottish government\u2019s key priority of eradicating child poverty. I am determined this action plan will deliver positive and lasting change.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the heart of my mission is ensuring children are not spending time in unsuitable accommodation or long periods in temporary accommodation; that the housing needs of vulnerable communities are met and that we create the optimum conditions for confidence and investment in Scotland\u2019s housing sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur efforts so far since declaring a housing emergency have seen 2,700 families with children into a permanent home, up to December 2024. Our action plan will see tens of thousands more families have a place they can call home.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I took up the role of cabinet secretary I have listened to calls from the sector for multi-year funding to give housebuilders more long-term certainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot tackle this emergency alone though and I need everyone from across the private and public sector to pull together and deliver this plan to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to a safe, warm and affordable home.\u201d<\/p>\n
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As well as increasing investment, the Scottish government will implement Awaab\u2019s Law from March 2026, starting with damp and mould, subject to parliamentary approval, to ensure landlords promptly address issues hazardous to tenants.<\/p>\n
Also being introduced is a \u00a31 million national \u2018fund to leave\u2019, to provide financial support for up to 1,200 women and their children to leave an abusive partner.<\/p>\n
Land for housing in rural areas will be unlocked by working with the Scottish National Investment Bank, landowners and public bodies.<\/p>\n
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, hit out at burdensome legislation, which he said is at the root of Scotland\u2019s housing crisis.<\/p>\n
Douglas said: \u201cWhilst a focus on tackling empty homes and more affordable housing as well as increasing standards for damp and mould are welcome, new social rented sector housing completions are down by 26% and the SNP government continues to fail to recognise that the vast majority of private rented sector homes are provided by individual landlords.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are people who are being disincentivised to stay in the market or invest as housing providers because of burdensome legislation and damaging rent control measures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cabinet secretary referenced the Housing Investment Taskforce recommendations for build to rent and mid-market exemptions to rent control. The Taskforce also recommended a review of property taxes which if reduced can make it more affordable for people to move up and down the housing ladder but also bring down the cost of renting as the tax burden is reduced for landlords.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Scottish government is serious about bringing down the cost of renting, then Scotland needs a taxation system that allows for housing mobility and where landlords can invest in improvements without having to significantly raise rents and pass costs on to tenants.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Scottish government has committed to investing \u00a34.9 billion in the next four years to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30, as part of its \u2018Housing Emergency Action Plan. This should provide homes for up to 24,000 children. This year investment in property acquisitions will double to \u00a380 million, which should take an estimated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3206,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-second-home"],"yoast_head":"\n