Build Scotland Construction Directory
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Share this page
Construction News
14/08/2009

Shelter Say 'Cancel RTB On New Tenancies'

The Right to Buy (RTB) should be scrapped for all new tenancies, according to housing charity, Shelter Scotland.

The charity is calling on the Scottish Government to be bolder in its reform of RTB by ending the policy for all new tenancies.

The policy, which allows social tenants to buy their rented home, often with substantial discounts, was introduced over 25 years ago under Mrs Thatcher's government.

It has meant the sale of nearly half a million public sector homes since then – while only around 42,000 houses have been built over the same period.

The Scottish Government has proposed ending the RTB for newly built social housing and for tenants getting a rented social home for the first time, or returning after a tenancy break. However, tenants with a current RTB would keep that right.

-- Advertisement --
NorthernAsbestosServicesLtd

The charity argues that its proposals – contained in its submission to the current consultation on the upcoming Housing Bill – are much simpler and will make a bigger impact at a time when the need for affordable rented homes is so acute.

In addition, Shelter Scotland argues that decisions over 'pressured area status' should be devolved to local authorities and that the RTB should be suspended for all tenants in an area covered by this designation.

A recently released Shelter Scotland report on the housing crisis, Building Pressure, showed that social rented housing is at a 50-year low.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, said: "Much of this decline can be attributed to the Right to Buy policy which has robbed communities of social housing that has often then been sold on the open market for ridiculous prices, particularly at the height of the housing market boom, instead of being re-let to those in housing need.

"But Right to Buy is not the only reason for a decline in housing.

"A failure to invest in housing by successive governments to help rebuild stock sold under Right to Buy has been a key factor in the lack of homes in the 21st century."

The charity's response to the Scottish Governments new housing bill consultation also argues that the Scottish Housing Regulator must continue to oversee local authority homelessness services.

(GK/BMcC)

Latest Construction News

07/05/2024

CCG (Scotland) and Westscot Living has announced the launch of the largest development of 'Passivhaus' affordable homes in Glasgow. This landmark project, located in Dundashill, north of Glasgow's city centre, consists of 90 highly energy-efficient mid-market rent homes. The development, ...
07/05/2024

Glasgow City Council has announced that the £5.827 million Argyle Street West Avenue scheme will begin on Monday, 13 May. This Avenue will stretch from under the Kingston Bridge to the junction between Argyle Street, Jamaica Street and Union Street. It will bring significant improvement to the ...
07/05/2024

SSEN Transmission has announced the launch of preparatory works for a new electricity substation at Creag Dhubh south of Cladich, Argyll, set to begin this week. Creag Dhubh substation iSSEM Transmission Launch New Argyll Development s one of five substations to be built as part of SSEN ...
07/05/2024

Moray Council has announced the appointment of Page \ Park Architects, to lead efforts to bring Grant Lodge in Elgin "back to life". The experienced team will lead the re-design and restoration of the heritage gem in the heart of Moray, bringing this much-loved building back to life after a long ...
07/05/2024

North Lanarkshire Council has announced the successful completion of a new housing development, delivering 31 new modern homes at Northburn Avenue and Northburn Place, Airdrie. The new homes have been built on the site where 28 flats were demolished as part of the council's re-provisioning ...
07/05/2024

Network Rail has announced the successful completion of a programme of vital repair works at Harbour Road in Inverness. Engineers works across the Bank Holiday weekend, to address deteriorated road surfaces on the approach to the level crossing. Stuart Colvin, Infrastructure Maintenance Engineer ...
07/05/2024

Midlothian Council has announced that it will progress plans to decarbonise all its buildings and set up district heating zones. The plans are part of the recently approved Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES). The LHEES will help the council meet Scotland's statutory greenhouse gas ...
07/05/2024

The Retail Trust charity has appointed Clark Contracts to complete a £1m renovation within its Hugh Fraser Retirement Estate in Newton Mearns to create a new community hub for older people and the community across East Renfrewshire. Three disused spaces within the estate's Crookfur House are being ...
07/05/2024

Marshall Construction has been awarded certification to BS ISO 45001: 2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, following a rigorous auditing process by certificating body, BM Trada. This certification adds to the existing ISO 9001 Quality and ISO 14001 Environmental Management ...
07/05/2024

Construction firms and property owners in Dundee have been urged to remove scaffolding as quickly as possible once works are completed. While praising proprietors for their efforts to prevent structural damage, a senior city councillor has also voiced concerns about the problems posed by ...
Morris & Spottiswood LtdRBT Underfloor LimitedKattrak International Hidromek SalesScotdeck LtdThe Big Block Co LtdSafe Access (Highland) Ltd.Bairds Windows LtdThe Human Touch Scaffolding Co LtdBabbity EnvironmentalTHE HOME ARCHITECT
Terms and Conditions
2024/05/07 20:24:24