The Scottish arm of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has released a major report into housing needs in the country, revealing a need for nearly 79,000 affordable homes
To meet the minimum requirement of 78,465 Scottish affordable homes under Scottish affordable housing by the next parliament, 15,693 homes need to be built every year.
The report has been funded by Shelter Scotland, CIH Scotland, and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
Half are needed in the east of Scotland
Of the total 15,693 affordable homes needed annually, 7,860 are required in Eastern Scotland to address homelessness and social housing demand in the region. The report regards the situation as an emergency and warns that, unless addressed, it will only worsen.
The current report is a continuation of a report from five years ago, which the Scottish Government used to advise their current affordable housing supply programme. With a Scottish parliamentary election coming, this report is designed to influence near-future policy.
13 local authorities and the Scottish Government have individually declared a housing emergency since 2023.
Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, said: “This research shows the devastating reality of Scotland’s housing emergency and the decades of underinvestment in housing that have brought us to the point. The need for social housing is increasing and yet Scotland is not building anywhere near enough to meet demand.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Housing recently announced a housing emergency action plan. While there is much to welcome, it falls short on delivering the new social homes needed to stop homelessness rising.
“Scotland needs these new homes for social rent to prevent more families being pushed into poverty, get the 10,180 children out of temporary accommodation and into permanent homes, to stop young people being locked out of secure housing and to protect communities from a broken and biased housing system. We face a simple choice: invest in the homes we need now or pay the price for generations.
“Scotland cannot afford another lost decade on housing.”
The report can be read in full here.
A new Scottish Housing Emergency Action Plan is being put in place
Earlier this month, the Scottish Government put a new emergency action plan for housing in place.
With over 10,000 children in temporary accommodation as of 30 September 2024, new affordable homes are desperately needed to solve the crisis.
Actions within the plan include:
- Increase the supply of affordable housing by doubling investment in acquisitions, effectively increasing the second year of the targeted ‘voids and acquisition’ fund from £40 million to £80 million this financial year, with a focus on acquisitions, and in particular family homes – bringing total investment over two years to £120 million. Councils will be asked to ‘flip’ accommodation from temporary to permanent where appropriate and to proactively contact all relevant households to discuss the option of flipping. This fund will help to replenish stock that has been flipped to create permanent homes.
- Raise the standard and quality of all rented accommodation by, subject to Parliament, bringing Awaab’s Law into force, starting with tackling damp and mould in Scotland from March 2026.
- Fund pilot schemes, including private sector leasing, to reduce the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation such as hostels, hotels and B&Bs.
- Invest up to £2 million through the discretionary housing payments scheme to support households currently in temporary accommodation to find settled homes in the private rented sector.
- Introduce a long-term system of rent control to support keeping private rents affordable, subject to Parliament agreeing the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
- Amplify and scale-up best practice techniques, including working with partners on guidance to help drive positive behaviours as we tackle the housing emergency – continuing our activist and interventionist approach when working with front line partners.
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