Guidance on how social landlords can support terminally ill residents published in Scotland

It has already been backed by Scotland’s housing secretary Màiri McAllan, who said: “Home, comfort and familiarity with surroundings is of the greatest importance to people who are terminally ill and at the end of their lives.

“I welcome the publication of this practice note from Marie Curie, which seeks to provide support in the most challenging of circumstances and has been developed in partnership with the housing sector.

“It sets out a blueprint on how social housing landlords, housing practitioners and advice services can ensure tenants and their families are treated with dignity and can access the support they need.”

In a report published in the spring, Marie Curie Scotland, part of the UK-wide charity that supports people affected by terminal illness, raised the issue of housing insecurity as a major challenge this group faces.

More than 27,000 people in Scotland have to move home every year because of an experience with dying, death and bereavement, according to a 2024 poll it commissioned.

Just under half move because they cannot afford to live in their home, and more than a third because they do not hold the tenancy.

The charity also highlighted other housing-related difficulties people with terminal illness face, such as problems getting adaptations, being placed on long waiting lists despite their progressing illness, and having to go to the hospital because the place they live in is unsuitable.

Ellie Wagstaff, senior policy manager at Marie Curie Scotland, said: "This practice note ensures that people living with terminal illness can stay in familiar surroundings and receive the support they need, while bereaved families still have a stable environment to grieve."

She added: "In social housing across Scotland, people living with terminal illness face substantial emotional and financial hardship as they navigate rapidly changing needs and often extensive waiting times for adaptations and accessible housing.

"There can be challenges around managing expectations, and concerns from social landlords about the right things to say.

"These challenges also extend to family members once a person has died."

Richard Meade, chief executive of the SFHA, formerly headed up policy and public affairs for Marie Curie in Scotland and led a number of award-winning campaigns.

Mr Meade, who joined the SFHA from Carers UK in September, said: "Ensuring tenants living with terminal illness, as well as their families and carers, receive all the support they need is paramount to social landlords.

"This practice note builds on the work housing associations do in collaboration with other agencies to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and understanding at such a difficult time.

"It recognises that people living with terminal illness have complex and changing needs, showcases best practice within the existing legislative environment and within a highly pressurised housing system.

"As home must always be a place for stability and security the examples in this practice note also, importantly, extends to include supporting family, friends and neighbours through bereavement."

The best practice guidance note can be accessed here.