SFHA to work with new government to deliver the homes Scotland needs
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has congratulated the SNP on its election result and pledged to work with the new Scottish Government in order to deliver the affordable housing that Scotland needs during this parliament.
The SNP secured a fourth consecutive win in last week’s election, only narrowly missing out on an outright majority with 64 MSPs returned to Holyrood.
The SFHA said it will hold the new government to account to ensure it delivers its housing pledges.
SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas said: “On behalf of SFHA, I’d like to congratulate the SNP on its election result. Together with our members, we will work with the new government on key issues such as delivering the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, improving existing homes, tackling poverty and inequality, and combatting the effects of climate change.
“There is much work to be done during this parliament, particularly as we look to Scotland’s social and economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Building more affordable and social homes will help to tackle the poverty and inequality that still exists in Scotland today.
“We must ensure the new Affordable Housing Supply Programme will build the homes the country needs and that grant subsidy levels can deliver the homes to the required quality standards, and in the locations they are needed, while keeping rents affordable for tenants.
“Ensuring existing housing stock can be brought up to meet government energy efficiency targets is also a critically important issue for our members. It is vital that social landlords are supported in order to tackle fuel poverty and climate change, so their tenants do not bear the brunt of new measures such as the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing 2.”
Ms Thomas added: “SFHA will hold the new government to account and ensure it delivers the pledges in its manifesto and Housing to 2040 strategies. It is vital these commitments are met in order to realise our shared vision of ensuring that everyone in Scotland has a safe, warm, energy efficient affordable home.”