The New Housing(Scotland) Bill

Elaine Hamilton

Housing Bill Project Manager

Scottish Government

Overview

• What’s in the Bill

• Abolition of Right to Buy

• Social housing reform

• What happens next?

Housing Bill

• Follows on from Homes fit for 21st Century

‘All people in Scotland live in high-quality sustainable homes that they can afford and that meet their needs’ (Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration Outcome)

Housing Bill

• Introduced to Parliament on 21 November

• Aim is to safeguard the interests of tenants, improve housing quality and secure better outcomes for communities

Housing Bill

Defective Designation

Private House Condition

Enforcement Powers: Quality

Standards

Social Housing Reform – more

flexibility for Social Landlords

Amending the 20 year

rule

Right to Buy

• RTB will end for all tenants of social housing in Scotland 3 years after the Bill becomes law

• This means RTB will end Summer/ Autumn 2017

Consultation Responses - General

• 169 responses analysed• 87% supported further restrictions to RTB • 83% of these favoured ending RTB. This included

92% of Registered Social Landlords and 81% of local authorities

• 25% of tenant groups and 27% of individuals who responded favoured no change to RTB at all

• 73% of respondents who commented recommended a notice period of two years or less

Why end RTB?

• Favoured option from consultation responses• Logical progress from 2010 changes• A distinctive Scottish solution • Fairness• Helping tenants• Helping landlords• Helping communities • Helping the taxpayer

Significance of RTB

• 611,000 homes in social rented sector

• 207,000 have preserved RTB.

• 327,000 have modernised RTB.

• 81% of tenancies have some form of RTB

• Up to 15,500 houses protected by ending RTB

Social Housing - Allocations and tenancies

• Allocations – more freedom for landlords and factors that may be considered when prioritising

• 12 month qualifying period before assigning, sub-letting or requesting a joint tenancy

• Can refuse assignation if assignee is not in a priority group

Social Housing - Tools to tackle anti-social behaviour

• Previous behaviour can be taken into account in allocation

• More flexibility for landlords to use SSSTs for anti-social tenants – to encourage them to change their behaviour

• Simpler eviction procedures for the most serious anti-social behaviour

Social housing - Further protection for tenants

• Landlords to give reasons for repossession of tenancy

• Tenants can request a review before case goes to court

• Applicants can challenge decision to make them ineligible for housing

Impact on landlords

• Landlords can decide how to use new flexibilities

• Could mean changes in allocations policy

• Assessment of property owned by applicants

• Making decisions on type of tenancy to offer

• More use of SSSTs

Impact on landlords

• More support for tenants with SSSTs

• Fewer approved assignation requests

• Guidance will be produced with your help

Housing BillHousing Bill

Further information

• Scottish Parliament website - http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/70102.aspx

• Scottish Government website– http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/reform/housing-bill

• Housing Bill mailbox –

housingbill@scotland.gsi.gov.uk