A survey of more than 1,000 adults across Scotland, published today by Shelter Scotland conducted by the Diffley Partnership, showed that 57% of voters would consider switching their regional ballot vote if another party had clear policies which they liked to tackle the housing emergency.

Around three-quarters (73%) of people in Scotland agree that the housing emergency will lead to long-term problems in society, while 59% of people in Scotland know that the Scottish Government has declared a housing emergency.

In addition, 73% of people in Scotland support building more social homes to end homelessness, making this their preferred policy over rent controls (66%), planning reform (60%) and grants to first time buyers (59%).

Housing & homelessness ranks above education, climate change and crime when voters are considering what issues are most important in shaping their constituency and regional list voting decision.

The survey showed that 50% of SNP voters, 66% of Scottish Labour voters and 55% of Reform UK voters would switch their regional list vote if another party offered a policy to tackle the housing emergency that they like.

After the SNP and Scottish Labour, the two beneficiaries of second vote switching could be the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Green Party, each of whom experts predict could be the kingmakers in the next Parliament should there be no majority for one party.

Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, assistant director of Shelter Scotland, said: “This research is clear. People in Scotland know there is a housing emergency, they support social house building as the best solution and it significantly impacts on their decisions as voters.

“For too long we have watched as the managed decline of social housing in Scotland has led to rising homelessness and the number of homes-built falls below what is needed to cut rising homelessness.

“The cost of not building the homes can be seen in cuts to council services like libraries, swimming pools and potholes as councils divert resources to pay for hotel rooms to keep people off the streets.

“It is an outrage that every party leader knows the solution is to build more social homes, but they seem too scared to act. Now, thanks to this research, they know that voters will back them if they just get on and deliver the homes people in Scotland so desperately need. Our politicians must have the courage of their convictions and deliver.”

Mark Diffley, founder and director of Diffley Partnership, said: “As we approach the election, this poll demonstrates a clear relationship between housing policy and voters’ decisions. Scots are aware of the housing emergency, are concerned about its impacts and there’s an appetite for the new parliament to present a plan to address the housing emergency early on.

“The data also indicates potential for housing policy to influence vote switching, with a majority saying they would consider changing their second vote if another party had clear policies which they liked.”