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Minister welcomes higher standards for hundreds of thousands of tenants.

Social landlords will be required to make sure their properties meet high quality energy efficiency and health and safety standards as of yesterday.

Introduced in 2004, the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) now becomes a requirement rather than a target, with social landlords expected to ensure tenants’ homes are energy efficient, free from serious disrepair, have good condition kitchens and bathrooms and meet health and safety guidelines.

Between 2007 and 2015 social landlords invested £3.3 billion in improving housing stock. There are around 596,000 dwellings in the social rented sector.

The Scottish Housing Regulator is responsible for monitoring social landlords’ performance against the Standard through the Charter data collection and taking action where it thinks is necessary.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess welcomed the news on a visit to meet tenants living in Melville Housing Association properties in Dalkeith. She said:

“Making sure everyone in Scotland has access to good quality housing is a vital part of the Scottish Government’s drive to secure economic growth, social justice and tackle inequality.

“Over the last 10 years social landlords have invested heavily to improve the conditions of houses with social tenants now living in better quality homes with modern facilities, heating systems and safety features. These achievements show the benefits of a standards-led approach to improving the quality and energy efficiency of social housing.

“Social landlords should be congratulated for this significant progress with homes across Scotland now meeting these conditions, and I am confident this new requirement will ensure even more people are able to live in warmer, safer and drier homes.”

Melville Housing currently owns and manages nearly 2,000 homes and in 2014 invested £1.06 million into meeting the SHQS.

Melville Chief Executive Andrew Noble said:

“Energy efficiency is one of our key priorities and the massive project to fit external wall insulation to all of our 568 non-traditional properties in Mayfield is a huge undertaking. We are making excellent progress, having completed 400 homes so far with another 105 to benefit over the next 12 months. 

“The success of this project, and all the work we’ve done so far to meet the SHQS, is built on strong partnership working. Quality, affordable homes are at the heart of what we do and by working together we are making a real difference to the lives of our customers, giving them warmer homes, saving them money on fuel bills and improving the appearance of whole communities.”

David Bookbinder, Director of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, said:

“The very high rate of SHQS compliance is a huge credit to Scottish housing associations and councils, who’ve ensured that social housing stands above all other tenures in terms of standards of property and service.”

David Stewart, policy manager from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations said:

“The Scottish Housing Quality Standard has seen significant investment by housing associations and co-operatives across Scotland, and this has led to them improving their tenants’ homes. Melville Housing Association is an excellent example of an association that has invested in its homes in order to meet the standard, making a real difference to the lives of its tenants.

With fuel poverty on the rise and fuel prices rising above inflation in recent years, we know it is vital that momentum is maintained and funds invested in Scotland’s homes. We look forward to continuing to work with our members, our partners and the Scottish Government on improving the standards and energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes.”

Notes To Editors

The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) was introduced in February 2004 and is the Scottish Government's principal measure of housing quality in Scotland.

The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is the Scottish Government’s official measure of housing condition, with statistics published each year in the SHCS Findings report: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/SHCS/Downloads

The progress from SHQS provides a strong foundation for the new investment needed to ensure that social housing meets the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) by 2020. The EESSH is available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/sustainable/standard

The Scottish Government is also working with stakeholders to develop proposals for minimum energy efficiency in private sector housing. There will be a consultation on proposals later this year.

More information on the SHQS is available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/16342/shqs