Home building industry body Homes for Scotland has rejected claims made by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations that support for first-time buyers and increasing sources of private finance to enable the delivery of more affordable housing will not help reduce waiting list numbers.

Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said: “We really need to destroy the myth that making it more difficult for people to own their own home somehow solves Scotland’s housing crisis.

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“The fact of the matter is that the home ownership aspirations of Scots have increased by 20% since 2007. However, as a result of the credit crunch, many credit-worthy buyers are now struggling to raise deposits of up to 25% and therefore have no option but to turn to the rental sector, whether social, mid-market or private.

“In reality, the leveraging of private sector finance is already reducing the pressure on waiting lists as recent examples of people choosing to relinquish social tenancies for other tenures demonstrate.

“Unfortunately, the SFHA’s narrow focus serves only to polarise a discussion which should be open-minded and tenure blind rather than following a single issue agenda.”

(GK/KMcA)