SFHA comment on Programme for Government

Sally Thomas, Chief Executive, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said,

“Housing associations and co-operatives are doing everything they can to support their tenants as the cost of living crisis takes hold, and we understand the motivation to restrict increases in rents. Housing associations exist to provide affordable rented housing; that’s why, despite no government restrictions, rent for social homes is consistently around half the level charged in the private sector.

If a rent freeze continues without increased government support, we risk housing associations being unable to build the new social homes that Scotland desperately needs, and it is more than likely we won’t achieve the target of 110,000 new affordable homes by 2032. It also threatens our ability to maintain and upgrade existing homes: leading to poorer quality, less energy efficient housing. We will be working with the Scottish Government in the coming days and weeks to demonstrate the consequences of today’s announcement and ensure this policy does not jeopardise Scotland’s ambitious targets on maintaining and delivering affordable homes and decarbonising housing.”