Gillian McLees: Scotland’s next government must make housing a national priority

In less than two months, Scotland will head to the polls to elect a new government. For those of us working in housing, the importance of this election cannot be overstated.

Social housing is operating in a period of profound change. The pressure on supply is intense. And the expectations on housing professionals have never been higher, with the pace and weight of regulation continuing to grow.

In recent years we have seen a renewed political momentum – including a cabinet secretary for housing – and yet, despite this, we are still delivering in a system where social housing output has stalled, funding remains constrained, and temporary accommodation costs are crippling budgets.

For over two and a half years we have seen local authorities throughout Scotland take the radical step of declaring housing emergencies. CIH declared a national housing emergency in 2024, which the Scottish government echoed months later. And while this has brought about positive change and the Housing Emergency Action Plan, as housing professionals we know only too well that this housing crisis has been a long time in the making, and it will take a long time to fix.

To ensure Scotland can provide the safe, secure and affordable homes that everyone in Scotland rightly deserves, it is vital housing remains a political priority.

In our 2026 Scottish election manifesto, we have set out practical, evidence-based actions that the next government can take to strengthen Scotland’s housing system. These recommendations have been shaped by our members through workshops, surveys and discussions across the sector.

Central to this is a commitment to delivering more affordable homes. Our research last year with Shelter and the SFHA highlighted we need at least 15,690 new social and affordable homes per year. Scotland needs a sustained, long-term programme of investment in affordable housing supply. Without it, we will struggle to reduce homelessness, tackle housing insecurity and support economic growth.

Another key ask in our manifesto refers to meeting changing needs. People’s housing needs change throughout their lives, and our housing system must be able to adapt. That means stronger partnership working, greater investment in prevention and a focus on wellbeing so people can access the right home at the right time. By planning and supporting people earlier, we can help prevent housing crises, create a system that works for communities at every stage of life and relieve pressures on other public services.

Supporting the transition to net zero homes is another key priority. The housing sector has an important role to play in helping Scotland reach its net zero by 2045 target. We’re calling for a clear national delivery plan, long-term funding and policy certainty to ensure the move to cleaner heating continues to keep homes warm and remains affordable.

Our members also highlight the need to recognise the housing workforce itself. Housing professionals play a vital role in supporting tenants and maintaining safe homes. The forthcoming review of the Scottish Social Housing Charter presents an opportunity to recognise the professionalism of the sector and encourage CPD across the workforce – as we stated in our report on leadership and culture in the Scottish social housing sector, which was published on 3 March.

This would create regulatory oversight of professional development while allowing enough flexibility within organisations for approaches to be tailored to local needs and priorities. It would also provide transparency to tenants, residents and wider stakeholders on the competence and skills of the housing professionals maintaining and managing their homes.

This conversation is already underway. At Scotland’s Housing Festival, which took place on 3-4 March, housing professionals, policymakers and tenants came together to discuss how we can respond to the housing emergency and improve the system for everyone. Our morning hustings session also provided an important opportunity for political parties to outline how they would prioritise housing if elected in May and for housing professionals to ask their questions.

Discussions continued at the Scottish Parliament on 11 March, when I met with MSPs to discuss what the sector needs from the next government.

Housing professionals, tenants and communities must all play a role in ensuring that housing remains a political priority in the months ahead. Speak to local MSPs, ask them about their understanding of affordable homes and what they mean for communities. What are the key housing needs of their constituency and how do they intend to prioritise housing and support services if elected?

Throughout the development of our manifesto, one message from our members came through loud and clear: the housing sector needs strong, decisive leadership. Politicians must listen to the sector and provide the resources required to turn ambition into action. This election is an opportunity to recognise housing as the vital public service it is, and to give those working across the sector the support they need to build safe, thriving communities across Scotland.