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The New Housing(Scotland) Bill

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 21 st Century

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The New Housing(Scotland) Bill

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  1. The New Housing(Scotland) Bill Elaine Hamilton Housing Bill Project Manager Scottish Government

  2. Overview • What’s in the Bill • Abolition of Right to Buy • Social housing reform • What happens next?

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. Housing Bill Defective Designation Private House Condition Enforcement Powers: Quality Standards Social Housing Reform – more flexibility for Social Landlords Amending the 20 year rule

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Impact on landlords • More support for tenants with SSSTs • Fewer approved assignation requests • Guidance will be produced with your help

  15. Housing Bill Parliamentary phase • Stage 1 : evidence sessions (Late 2013/Spring 2014) • Stage 2 : amendments; (Spring 2014) • Stage 3 : amendments; vote (Early Summer 2014) • Royal Assent (Summer 2014) • Commencement (Autumn 2014)

  16. 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

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