Social housing: Scotland’s best kept secret

Carried out by YouGov, the poll asked 1,066 Scottish adults a series of questions on issues such as the government’s housing policy priorities, factors relating to their ideal home, and perceptions around choice and affordability in different tenures.

The results show that only 13% of respondents think that social housing provides the best choice for a high quality home, while 76% believe homeownership provides the opportunity to secure a high quality home.

Social landlords are maintaining strong performance across all standards and outcomes set by the Scottish Housing Regulator. The results are powerful and speak for themselves:

• Nine out of 10 tenants are satisfied with the homes and services their landlord provides
• 84% of registered social landlord (RSL) tenants are satisfied that their rent is good value for money, an increase in performance from last year
• 89% of RSL tenants are satisfied with the quality of their homes, again another increase from the previous year
• 94% of homes meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard

It is this kind of performance that demonstrates that social landlords across Scotland work tirelessly to build and manage high quality affordable homes in successful places that the people of Scotland need and deserve.

What the Scottish Housing Day poll highlights is that as a housing option, social housing is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets.

We need to do more to make it visible.

People across Scotland are looking for good quality homes, and overcoming this negative perception will be essential to making sure everyone has the information they need about the housing options open to them.

To get us started, we need a positive re-framing of the housing system, which puts genuinely affordable housing on equal terms with all other options.

This means seeing the housing system through the lens of social justice, with affordable housing viewed as a positive and equal choice in a re-balanced and mature housing market.

“We need a positive re-framing of the housing system, which puts genuinely affordable housing on equal terms with all other options.”

We need to recognise that the ‘property ladder’ is a failed concept, and that for many the idea of ‘climbing’ a ladder is neither possible nor desirable. We need to do a better job of sharing the message that as providers of some of the best quality, energy efficient, accessible and award-winning housing in the country, it’s obvious that social housing is not just a last resort, but a positive choice.

We have to aim for tenure neutrality in terms of standards and quality, in terms of public perception and in terms of access – recognising that all tenures have a different purpose and place for people at different times in their lives – according to needs, circumstances and aspirations.

As a sector, we can and we do change people’s lives; we’ve got a fantastic track record. There is so much more to do and we can do it. It was Nelson Mandela who said “it always seems impossible until it’s done”. So let’s get on with it – let’s do the impossible.

Sally Thomas, chief executive, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations