0:01 AM, 3rd September 2025, About 4 months ago
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The Scottish government has announced an action plan to end the housing emergency, including implementing Awaab’s Law by 2026 and spending millions of pounds on affordable homes.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan says the government is focusing on three key areas: ending children living in unsuitable accommodation, supporting the housing needs of vulnerable groups, and promoting growth and investment in the housing sector.
However, the Scottish Green Party argues that the plan does not go far enough to tackle the housing crisis and is calling for immediate rent controls.
The Scottish government has announced that from March next year, they will implement Awaab’s Law for landlords, starting with damp and mould issues, which they say will “ensure landlords promptly address problems hazardous to tenants.”
In England, starting in October, Awaab’s Law will require all social housing landlords to fix dangerous damp and mould within set timeframes, and is set to be extended to the private rented sector under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Scottish government also announced additional funding to invest up to £4.9 billion over the next four years, aiming to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30 and provide a home for up to 24,000 children.
Alongside this, investment in acquisitions will double this year to £80 million, which the government says will help remove between 600 and 800 children from temporary accommodation.
Ms McAllan says the action plan will help tackle Scotland’s housing emergency.
She said: “Tackling the housing emergency will be a cornerstone in our efforts to achieve the Scottish government’s key priority of eradicating child poverty. I am determined this action plan will deliver positive and lasting change.
“At the heart of my mission is ensuring children are not spending time in unsuitable accommodation or long periods in temporary accommodation; that the housing needs of vulnerable communities are met and that we create the optimum conditions for confidence and investment in Scotland’s housing sector.
“Our efforts so far since declaring a housing emergency have seen 2,700 families with children into a permanent home, up to December 2024. Our action plan will see tens of thousands more families have a place they can call home.”
However, the Scottish Greens have criticised the government’s action plan, claiming it is “listening to the landlord lobby.”
The party argues renters cannot wait until 2027, when the Scottish Housing Bill is due to become law, and is calling for immediate rent controls.
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman, said: “A lot of renters cannot afford to wait until the Housing Bill brings rent controls into effect.
“The Cabinet Secretary has clearly been listening to the landlord lobby. The government agreed that renters needed protection from exploitative landlords when they agreed to bring in emergency rent controls. Those protections are still needed against the rent hikes and evictions that are happening today.
“With winter approaching, it is vital that people and families are not forced to choose between heating and eating, or paying even more for their rent than they can afford. This could lead to evictions and increased homelessness, caused by the landlord lobby’s greed.
“I urge the Scottish government to take action now to provide reassurance that renters will be supported and protected between now and the Housing Bill taking effect.”
Industry body Propertymark says the SNP needs to recognise that the private rented sector is vital to Scotland’s housing market, and landlords are leaving due to burdensome legislation.
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Whilst a focus on tackling empty homes and more affordable housing as well as increasing standards for damp and mould are welcome, new social rented sector housing completions are down by 26% and the SNP government continues to fail to recognise that the vast majority of private rented sector homes are provided by individual landlords.
“These are people who are being disincentivised to stay in the market or invest as housing providers because of burdensome legislation and damaging rent control measures.”
He adds: “The Cabinet Secretary referenced the Housing Investment Taskforce recommendations for build-to-rent and mid-market exemptions to rent control. The Taskforce also recommended a review of property taxes which if reduced can make it more affordable for people to move up and down the housing ladder but also bring down the cost of renting as the tax burden is reduced for landlords.
“If the Scottish government is serious about bringing down the cost of renting, then Scotland needs a taxation system that allows for housing mobility and where landlords can invest in improvements without having to significantly raise rents and pass costs on to tenants.”
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