Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland board chair Keith Anderson has called on politicians to recognise the central role housing plays in society.

Speaking at CIH Scotland’s Annual Conference and Exhibition at the SECC in Glasgow yesterday, Mr Anderson challenged politicians, housing professionals and the business community to work more closely together to create a housing system that works for everyone.

He said: “Having worked in housing for over 35 years, I am more determined than ever to see that everyone in Scotland lives in a good quality, secure home, which meets their needs and that they can afford. It is a simple ambition, but still we are some considerable way from achieving it.

“Our population is increasing and the number of households is expected to increase by 330,000 over the next 25 years. Over 29,000 households in Scotland were classed as homeless last year, and when you add the stark reality of around 180,000 households currently on council and housing association waiting lists, it is clear we have a housing crisis on our hands.”

He added: “Housing is central to delivering a stronger society and a stronger economy. You cannot have a fair and just society without everyone being properly housed and supported.

“Politicians, the business community, and civic Scotland all need to get this. Some of them do, but not all by any means. This is our challenge – getting everyone to accept that it is not in our collective long term interest for anyone to experience poor, insecure or unaffordable housing conditions.

“There is an important opportunity here for us all to work more collaboratively in future, focusing on the things that really will make a positive change. While the scale and complexity of the housing challenge is great we must keep our eye on the prize – that everyone in Scotland lives in a good quality, secure home, which meets their needs and that they can afford.”