The Future of Social Housing in Scotland
EVH Annual Conference
5 October 2014
Dr Kim McKee, Director
Centre for Housing Research
University of St Andrews
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#Indyref reinvigorated Scottish politics
– Emphasis on social democracy
– Critique Westminster’s welfare reforms
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White paper little emphasis on social
housing (Maclennan 2014)
Positive sound-bites from Ministers
Successive Scottish Government’s never
used limited tax-raising powers available
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“Our vision for housing is that all people in
Scotland live in a high-quality, sustainable
home that they can afford and that meets their
needs. We recognise the vital role of
affordable rented housing in providing people
with a home and a platform for getting on in life,
and we are clear that housing is crucial to our
country’s health, social well-being and
economic prosperity” (SG 2012: 4).
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Very different to situation in England
“There is a question mark about whether, in future,
should we be asking, actually, when you are
given a council home, is it for fixed period,
because maybe in five or 10 years you will be
doing a different job and be better paid and you
won’t need that home, you will be able to go into
the private sector” (PM David Cameron 2010)
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Scotland already has distinctive social
housing policies:
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Abolished RTB
Progressive homelessness legislation
Secure tenancies across the social rented sector
Measures to mitigate worst impacts bedroom tax
More ambitious climate change targets
Social housing charter
But potential to do much more post #indyref!
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What do we want HP to achieve?
Housing much more than just housing
policy; wider social & economic context
– ‘Wobbly’ pillar of the welfare state
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Important source individual & national wealth
Key asset for individuals & families
Closely linked with labour markets
Key role in building communities & places
Tackling fuel poverty; promoting energy efficiency
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Social housing become less widespread
– 1991 41 per cent
– 2011 24 per cent
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Decline coincided with rise
homeownership; since 2000 growth PRS
Changing tenure structure big impact on
poverty in Scotland (Aldridge & Kenaway 2014)
Gap between cost of social and private
rent in Scotland very high
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What do we want our housing system to
look like?
If we value social housing then we need to
invest in the sector
Reductions in housing capital investment
in recent years hit landlords hard
Always been more than landlords
concerned with ‘bricks n mortar’
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Key role to play in mitigating the affects of
poverty & low-income:
– Building on community-anchor approach
– Catalysts to regenerate communities
– Working with local partners
– Enabling local people to drive forward change
– Provide warm, energy efficient homes
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HAs strong example of localism in action
Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill
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http://tinyurl.com/lcffewd
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Key role in delivering
more energy efficient
homes
– High % fuel poor
– Energy efficiency
standard for Social
Housing (EESSHH)
– RSL’s EE target 2020
– No social property
below C or D rating
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#indyref vote strongest in urban workingclass strongholds; also areas with largest
% social housing & severest poverty
Other areas with marginal no vote shared
this socio-economic profile
Desire for change; and revolt against
Westminster reforms & style of politics
Protect & enhance our public services
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http://ajrae.staff.shef.ac.uk/img/indyref_yes_dep.png
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Lack of housing supply more acute in ‘no
strongholds’ e.g. Edinburgh, Aberdeen,
rural Scotland
M/C concerns about impact on mortgages
& other aspects financial health nation
Housing significant, although underplayed
in #indyref debates
Sector needs to capitalise on this
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‘Devo-max’ & opportunities for change
Lord Smith’s devolution commission
– Income tax
– Housing benefit
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Tensions within coalition about how far
further devolution of powers should go
Devo-max, federalism & home-rule not the
same thing – constitutional negotiating
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Practicalities re: HB & Universal Credit
– Plan to be absorbed into Universal Credit
– Divorce from Westminster approach allow
‘clean break’ (Gibb & Stephens 2014)
– Would require a settlement between Holyrood &
Westminster in block grant
– Redesign different form of housing allowance
– Use tax-raising powers to fund reform of social
security system as a whole, inc HB
– Rethink social security system in Scotland
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Social democratic vision not cost free
Public & political will to support further
investment in the sector?
Analysis of Scottish Social Attitudes
Survey 2013 by Matthews (2014):
– 75% agree or strongly agree that the majority of people who
claim benefits do so fraudulently
– 52% think taxes and spending should be lowered or stay the
same at the moment
– 72% disagree with free University education
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#indyref mobilised peoples’ interests in
policy & politics; sector needs to harness it!
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Raised number of questions
In groups of 6-8 people debate & identify
your top 5 priorities for social housing
Please write these on the poster paper
provided
You have 15-20 minutes to discuss and
prioritise!
One person should feedback your ideas
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Your Key Priorities:
1.
2.
3.
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5.
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Affordable rents for tenants
Government support (financial & policy)
Fuel poverty and energy efficiency
Keeping it local (e.g. community governance,
tenant participation, local decision-making)
New housing (including subsidy, quality of
location & services, meeting local needs)
Regeneration and community development
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Email: km410@st-andrews.ac.uk
Visit the CHR website:
http://ggsrv-cold.st-andrews.ac.uk/chr/
Follow us on Twitter:
@kim_mckee
@StAndrewsCHR
Thanks to Louise Reid & Alasdair Rae
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USEFUL RESOURCES
Aldridge, H. (2014) “The #Indyref Debate on Housing in Scotland Needs to go Beyond the so-called
‘Bedroom Tax’: http://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/2014/04/indyref-debate-housing-scotland
Changeworks (2014) “Fuel Poverty Mapping at Small Area Data”
http://consultancy.changeworks.org.uk/assets/uploads/Fuel%20Poverty%20Mapping%20at%20Small%20Are
a%20Level_HRIS_26August14.pdf
Gibb, K. and Stephens, M. (2012) “Devolving Housing Benefit: a discussion paper”. Glasgow and
Edinburgh: SFHA and CIH Scotland.
Maclennan, D. (2014) “Scotland should have levied a 1p tax to deal with housing and social problems”:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/12/duncan-maclennan-scotland-housing-referendum
Matthews, P. (2014) “Scotland Decides”, Blogpost 19th September 2014:
http://drpetermatthews.blogspot.co.uk/2014_09_01_archive.html
McKee, K. and Phillips, D. (2012) “Social Housing and Homelessness Policies: reconciling social justice and
social mix”, pp 227-242, in G.Mooney and G.Scott (eds)Social Justice and Social Policy in Scotland.
Bristol: Policy Press.
McKee, K. (2012) “Housing Associations and the Big Society: lessons from Scotland’s community housing
sector”. St Andrews: Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews.
McKee, K; Moore, T; and Muir, J. (2014) “Briefing Paper 1: The Big Society and Welfare Reform” St
Andrews: Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews.
Moore, T. and McKee, K. (2014) “Briefing Paper 2: Localism and New Housing Futures“. St Andrews:
Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews.
Rae, A. (2014) “Indyref Maps”: . http://ajrae.staff.shef.ac.uk/img/indyref_yes_dep.png
Reid, L.A. & Houston, D.S. (2013) “Low Carbon Housing: a 'green' wolf in sheep's clothing?” Housing
Studies 28 (1): 1-9.
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