Calls to reduce
the timescale for abolishing Right to Buy social housing have been answered by
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess during the Stage 1 debate on the Housing
(Scotland) Bill.
Mrs Burgess
announced that the government will amend the notice period for Right to Buy
from three to two years after the date the Bill receives Royal
Assent.
The Bill, which
was introduced to Parliament in November will enhance housing conditions,
retain much needed social housing for people in Scotland and safeguard social
and private tenants.
The Minister
said:
“I am
grateful to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment (ICI) Committee for its
endorsement of the principles in the Housing Bill and for acknowledging that
these measures will improve housing in the social, private rented and
owner-occupied sectors.
“Increasing
the supply of social housing is essential and that is why we want to end the
Right to Buy.
“I have now
taken on board the ICI Committee’s concerns that the proposed three-year
timescale to abolish Right to Buy is too long. Going forward we will reduce the
period to two years which will give tenants time to consider their options and
find financial advice if they want to exercise their right to buy their
home.
“These
measures will protect up to 15,500 social houses from sale over a ten-year
period and safeguard social housing stock for future generations.
“With
185,000 people on waiting lists for council and housing association houses, we
can no longer afford to see the social sector lose out on badly needed
homes.”
Other measures in
the Bill include:
* establishing a
new housing tribunal to consider private rented housing cases.
* introducing regulation of letting agents.
* strengthening the licencing regime for mobile homes sites with permanent
residents.
* giving local authorities new discretionary powers to tackle poor housing
conditions in the private sector.
Mrs Burgess
continued:
“This Bill
will help us to deliver better outcomes for communities, safeguard the
interests of householders and strengthen the quality of Scotland’s
housing.
“There is
universal support for strengthening regulation of letting agents and for our
moves to transfer private rented sector cases from the sheriff to a
tribunal.
“Housing is
and will remain a priority for this government and through the Housing
(Scotland) Bill we will continue to support improvements across the private,
private rented and social sectors.”
Notes To
Editors
The Bill was
introduced to Parliament on 21 November. The timing of the parliamentary stages
is for the parliamentary authorities to decide, but the Scottish Government
hopes it will receive Royal Assent in summer 2014.
The Scottish
Government has accepted that the three-year period of notice for ending the
Right to Buy should be reduced so that social housing stock can be protected. A
period of two years has been proposed because the notice period has to be fair
and reasonable both for European Convention on Human Rights purposes and to
give tenants time to consider their options and obtain reputable financial
advice.