The Future of Social Housing in Scotland EVH Annual Conference 5 October 2014

1. 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

2. #Indyref reinvigorated Scottish politics • Emphasis on social democracy • Critique Westminster’s welfare reforms • 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

3. “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).

4. 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)

5. Scotland already has distinctive social housing policies: • 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!

6. What do we want HP to achieve? • Housing much more than just housing policy; wider social & economic context • ‘Wobbly’ pillar of the welfare state • 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

7. Social housing become less widespread • 1991 41 per cent • 2011 24 per cent • 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

8. 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’

10. 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 • HAs strong example of localism in action • Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill

11. http://tinyurl.com/lcffewd • 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

12. #indyref vote strongest in urban working-class 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

13. http://ajrae.staff.shef.ac.uk/img/indyref_yes_dep.png

14. 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

15. ‘Devo-max’ & opportunities for change • Lord Smith’s devolution commission • Income tax • Housing benefit • Tensions within coalition about how far further devolution of powers should go • Devo-max, federalism & home-rule not the same thing – constitutional negotiating

16. 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

17. 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

18. #indyref mobilised peoples’ interests in policy & politics; sector needs to harness it!

19. 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

20. Your Key Priorities: • 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

21. 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

22. 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%20Area%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.