Propertymark is pushing the Scottish government to take action on the country’s ongoing housing issues.
This request follows a call from Scottish Labour MSP Mark Griffin to Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, for a statement addressing Scotland’s ‘housing emergency’ before the end of the month.
The Scottish government has committed to investing a little over £400,000 to repurpose many of Scotland’s unoccupied homes. This occurs as cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow announce housing emergencies, with other councils likely considering the same move.
Recently, it was declared that the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership would receive £423,000 in funding to progress its efforts to increase housing availability by renovating empty properties for the year 2024-25.
The Partnership collaborates with local governments and property owners, providing guidance and assistance to renovate and utilize vacant homes. Since 2010, this initiative has successfully revitalized over 9,000 properties.
Timothy Douglas from Propertymark urges Mr. Yousaf to pay attention to the dire circumstances in Scotland’s housing sector and to act swiftly. He points out the distressing trend of multiple local councils declaring housing emergencies. Furthermore, he expresses concern about potential budget cuts in housing from the Scottish Government, which could lead to more authorities declaring emergencies if these persistent issues are not promptly tackled.
Legislation such as the Cost of Living Bill, which includes measures like Rent Caps, has been disastrous, according to Douglas. These laws make landlords hesitant to invest due to increased inflation and interest rates. Douglas warns that an extended transition period in the new law between April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2025, might not be sufficient to assist landlords who are considering or have chosen to leave the housing market.
