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Scottish government u-turn on adaptation funding

The Scottish government have agreed to look again at the eligibility criteria for housing adaptations after criticism from landlords.

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On 31 March, the Scottish government announced that it would remove funding for minor adaptations costing less than £1,000, effective immediately.

This meant that housing associations would have had to fund the first £1,000 of any adaptations work. Previously the threshold was £150.

But today Alex Neil, cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, confirmed that the government would conduct further consultation on the issue, reverting to the original criteria in the meantime.

‘We have listened carefully to concerns raised about changes to eligibility criteria for this new fund and recognise that, as they stand, we could potentially limit access and hamper Registered Social Landlords ability to carry out these crucial adaptations,’ Mr Neil said.

‘We also accept that previous consultation on the subject needed to be more inclusive and wide ranging. That is why we are now committed to a formal review and consultation with the Adaptations Working Group and other stakeholders.’

Any chances will now come into effect in April 2012.

Mary Taylor, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: ‘The changes to funding, announced with no consultation at the very end of the last parliament, caused widespread anger amongst associations and co-operatives and would have meant that badly-needed housing adaptations could not be carried out.’

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