Social housing in Scotland faces overhaul

Social justice minister Margaret Curran has announced a major
review of Scotland’s social housing, writes
Nicola Barry.

Curran said she would begin a consultation to deliver a Scottish
standard to cover heating, security and the condition of kitchens
and bathrooms.

“This is a major evolution of housing policy,” Ms Curran said,
“It builds upon and compliments the central policy of community
ownership. Too much of our social housing fails to reach the
standards we expect a modern country to provide.”

In a statement to the Scottish parliament the minister also
promised to review the process of council house stock transfer. She
announced greater flexibility for councils in borrowing for
improvements.

Referring to three successful housing stock transfer ballots so
far in Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders, she
added: “Wholesale stock transfer is still the best way forward for
local authorities to regenerate council housing and to bring it up
to the new standard.”

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, registered social
landlords and organisations such as the Scottish Federation of
Housing Associations, the Chartered Institute of Housing and
Shelter will be consulted about the content of the new Scottish
standard.