Shelter Scotland has welcomed the draft Housing (Scotland) Bill launched today by Alex Neil but urged the Scottish Government to go further in its reforms.

The charity has argued for Right to Buy reform to be simplified. It is also arguing for better protection for social tenants from eviction and more emphasis on supporting people who have been homeless to stay in their homes.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, said: "Since Right to Buy was introduced 25 years ago, around half a million public sector homes have been sold, contributing to Scottish social rented housing levels being at a 50-year low.

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"Today's proposals to reform Right to Buy are an acknowledgement by Scottish Ministers that the policy is a relic of the past and has had its day. However the Scottish Government can and should go further by simplifying their complicated proposals. It should scrap Right to Buy for all people transferring from one home to another or who are succeeding to a tenancy."

He added that ending Right to Buy alone will not solve Scotland's housing crisis, stating that this Bill is an "excellent opportunity" to better protect struggling social tenants by giving them the same protection from eviction as home owners will soon get plus better support for people who have been homeless to stay in their new homes.

"We will be lobbying MSPs to make keeping a home just as important as finding one in the first place," he added.

(GK/BMcC)