In its manifesto, Housing Associations: Building Scotland’s Future, which was launched at a campaign event at Elderpark Housing in Glasgow, SFHA has called on the next Scottish Government to prioritise support for housing associations and co-operatives.

It follows on from the housing body’s ‘Road to 2026’ series of Policy Papers, and sets out a new vision for housing in Scotland where everyone has access to a safe, warm and affordable home.

To make Scotland a healthier, wealthier and fairer country, the manifesto has called on the next Scottish Government to support housing associations and co-operatives in the following areas:

• Funding to build the homes Scotland needs- the next Scottish Government must deliver £1.6bn of annual public investment to build the 15,693 homes required each year to meet housing need.
• Delivering affordable warmth in our homes- housing associations need clarity on energy efficiency and net-zero standards, as well as fair and significant funding to support making homes more energy efficient.
• Preventing homelessness- commit to long-term tenancy sustainment funding to ensure housing associations can support tenants to remain in their homes.
• Making our homes fit for the future- greater funding for adaptations to ensure our homes are fit for varying needs, as well as a national accessible housing strategy.
• Ending tenant hardship- reform the Scottish Welfare Fund to allow for more flexibility in support. Replace the Investing in Communities Fund with a source that allows housing associations to keep investing in communities.
• Keeping our homes safe and healthy- ensure fair funding for remediation works and extend funding to any issues identified by building assessments.
• Ensuring regulation is proportionate- work in collaboration with the sector to ensure any new regulations are realistic, achievable and focused on delivering the best outcomes for tenants.

SFHA chief executive Richard Meade said: “The next Scottish Parliament cannot be the one that fails social housing as the consequences for people, families and our communities across Scotland would be devastating. That is why SFHA’s manifesto is a call for all of Scotland’s political parties to put housing at the heart of their plans for government.

“We know housing associations make Scotland a healthier, wealthier and fairer country, and so we need the next Scottish Government to introduce a policy programme which fully unlocks their potential to deliver for tenants and communities.

“The next Scottish Government must commit to a bold legislative agenda which delivers the £1.6 billion per year needed to build 15,693 homes each year across the next parliament; provides urgent clarity on energy efficiency and net-zero standards alongside fair and significant funding to support housing associations to meet them; as well as a series of other policies on preventing homelessness and meeting the needs of Scotland’s ageing population.

“This is a policy programme which not only delivers a new vision for housing, but can also transform Scotland into a healthier, fairer and more prosperous nation.”