the new housing(scotland) bill elaine hamilton housing bill project manager scottish government
TRANSCRIPT
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 –