Podcast: Can we end the Scottish housing emergency?

Key Takeaways

  • Scotland’s housing crisis is acute, with record-breaking homelessness and under-building of homes highlighted.
  • Housing supply is foundational: current build rate (~19,000 homes/yr) falls significantly short of historical peaks (~24,000 homes/yr) and demand.
  • The planning system is a major bottleneck; experts call for a “planning hit-squad” or resource boost to accelerate approvals.
  • Rent controls (linked to CPI + 1%) may form part of the solution, but clarity is needed to avoid discouraging landlords and reducing supply.
  • First-time buyers need tailored support—beyond tax relief, affordable share schemes and new-build prioritisation could relieve pressure.

 

In this episode of the podcast, hosts Paul and Megan engage with Mark Griffin, a Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Central Scotland region and spokesperson for Housing. They discuss pressing issues in Scotland's housing crisis, particularly focusing on the recent housing bill and the implications of rent controls and caps along with his thoughts on how the government should help first-time buyers. 

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Key Insights

Current Housing Crisis

The group discuss and highlights the significance of World Homelessness Day and recent parliamentary debates led by Anas Sarwar, which revealed a critical housing emergency in Scotland, including record levels of homelessness and poor construction figures. Mark emphasised the urgent need for a government response to this crisis.

The Shortfall in Housing Supply

The fundamental issue of insufficient housing construction in Scotland is playing a significant part in the Scottish housing emergency. Comparing the current government's record (approximately 19,000 houses built per year) to Labour’s previous administration (around 24,000 houses built annually) indicates a shortfall of about 100,000 homes since 2009.

Planning System Challenges

Mark outlined the clogged planning system as another major barrier to increasing housing supply. He suggests the establishment of a central resource or 'planning hit squad' to assist local authorities in processing applications more efficiently and discusses possible collaborations between developers and planning departments.

Rent Control and Landlord Concerns

The conversation shifts to the impact of rent caps and controls on landlords. They discussed support for a form of rent regulation linked to inflation. Still, they stressed the need for clarity and certainty in the housing bill to avoid unintended consequences that could worsen the situation for landlords and tenants alike.

Energy Efficiency Standards

Mark addressed the upcoming changes related to energy efficiency standards in housing, emphasising the importance of a phased approach to implementing new technologies. He suggests creating a first-stop shop model for energy efficiency where homeowners can receive trusted information and support to help homeowners understand the change and what they need to do. 

Support for First-Time Buyers

Megan discussed the challenges faced by first-time buyers in Scotland, especially compared to England. Mark proposes adjusting the tax relief for first-time buyers and suggests utilising discounted sales of affordable housing to support new buyers while alleviating pressure on social landlords.

 

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