- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the social justice secretary regarding the impact on rural and island communities of second home ownership.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a feasibility assessment and consultation to consider a new system for the registration of boiler sales and installations, for the purposes of managing the phase-out of fossil fuel boilers. R
Answer
As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government has committed to phasing out the need to install new or replacement boilers in off-gas grid homes from 2025 and in on-gas grid areas from 2030.
The Scottish Government continues to consider a range of possible means to implement this commitment – including forming views on the feasibility of creating new systems to register the sale and/or installation of boilers.
We will consult on a proposed approach in the coming year.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Central Scotland have been helped onto the property ladder through government schemes since 2016-17.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2022
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to assess the viability, and design policy and legislation to deliver compulsory sale and rent orders.
Answer
Local authorities already have broad compulsory purchase powers which are used for a range of purposes, including restoration of property which may be vacant, derelict or unsafe. Scottish Government officials continue to support and advise local authorities in this important work. As outlined in the Programme for Government, we are committed to modernising the compulsory purchase order process to make it clearer, fairer and faster for all parties, and to support the delivery of projects that are in the public interest. We will continue to engage with local authorities and other stakeholders to identify the most effective levers as the work progresses.
We are also considering the matter of compulsory sales orders as part of this. Any new powers would need to be compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights with careful consideration given to the compatibility with existing powers – this includes any proposals for Compulsory Rental Orders.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07448 by Shona Robison on 19 April 2022, whether it will also consult on the review of adaptations.
Answer
As set out in our Housing to 2040 strategy, we are taking forward a review of the current housing adaptations system and will make recommendations on how best to improve and streamline the system. As part of that work we will engage with key stakeholders later in this financial year.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how the Affordable Housing Supply Programme process and procedures facilitate the purchase of properties exiting the private rented sector in order to maintain the homes of tenants affected, in light of the publication, RentBetter: Research on the impact of changes to the private rented sector tenancy regime in Scotland: Wave 2 Final Report, which states that half of landlords intend to leave the market.
Answer
The Scottish Government already invests significantly through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and works with private sector funders and suppliers to maximise the delivery of the right homes in the right places. While the Affordable Housing Supply Programme process and procedures guidance does not specifically facilitate the purchase of properties exiting the private rented sector in order to maintain the homes of tenants affected, we were keen to gather views on what more can be done to ensure that the supply of rented homes continues to play a key role in addressing the affordability issues we are facing in Scotland as part of the consultation on the draft rented sector strategy – A New Deal for Tenants. We have specifically sought views on whether there are opportunities to engage with owners/ landlords to allow first refusal to those delivering the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. The consultation closed on 22 April and we will consider the responses in order to determine whether any changes are required to current guidance.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the requirement for affordable housing supply programme "buy-backs" to take place on the open market only.
Answer
Following a recent review, we will be publishing updated guidance on the operation of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme over the coming weeks so that Councils and Registered Social Landlords can apply for grant funding to enable them to purchase existing homes which are not for sale on the open market under the following circumstances.
Councils and Registered Social Landlords will be able to apply for grant funding to purchase homes with vacant possession where it can be demonstrated that the purchase meets a clear strategic purpose, and can clearly be seen to support the achievement of the priorities and objectives set out in a local authority’s Local Housing Strategy. Securing stock where there is a limited supply and limited development opportunities is an example of the type of situation where this might be deemed appropriate.
Councils and Registered Social Landlords will also be able to apply for grant funding to enable them to acquire properties from owner occupiers (particularly those in mixed tenure blocks) who cannot afford the required maintenance or refurbishment of their home, and would therefore wish to sell their home to a Council or Registered Social Landlord and become a tenant in the social rented sector. This will be permitted where is can be clearly demonstrated that:
- the purchase facilitates the consolidation of stock ownership for managing specific planned stock improvement/ refurbishment works, and supports the achievement of the priorities and objectives set out in a local authority’s Local Housing Strategy
- the local authority is unable to facilitate the planned works from local resources under discretionary power to assist
- the homeowner has received (a) advice about their financial situation from an FCA authorised independent financial adviser and (b) independent legal advice on the terms of the proposed sale and subsequent tenancy agreement
- the homeowner will employ a solicitor to act on their behalf with respect to the sale of their home, and
- the homeowner is not eligible for support under the Home Owners’ Support Fund.
The value of any property to be purchased in this situation must be in line with the terms of the Mortgage to Rent scheme. And the amount of money that a household can retain post sale will also mirror the terms of the Mortgage to Rent scheme.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors (a) landlord and (b) stock exits from the private rental sector, and what its policy is for managing these exits.
Answer
The Scottish Landlord Register provides data on the number of private landlord registrations, for example in relation to the number of new applications, renewals made and the number of properties these relate to.
The Scottish Government uses this information to monitor the number of registered landlords operating and properties in Scotland, and to appropriately distribute the applications fees to the relevant local authorities.
The information is also used more broadly to help with gaining insights and understanding of the Private Rented Sector and its regulation in Scotland, alongside other official statistics on the sector such as results from the Scottish Household Survey, which can help to monitor trends over time in overall stock levels of private rented sector households.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, for each Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) programme, (a) how many homes were (i) surveyed and (ii) in receipt of energy efficiency measures and (b) what the value was of that support, in each financial year (A) 2016-17, (B) 2017-18, (C) 2018-19, (D) 2019-20, (E) 2020-21 and (F) 2021-22, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer
Information relating to the number of homes receiving measures from Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland (HEEPS) schemes for the last five years has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 63123).
Properties benefitting from an energy efficiency measure delivered as part of our Warmer Homes Scotland or Area Based Schemes will have received a survey. Properties benefitting from measures funded with the support of a Scottish Government loan or cashback will have been recommended for the measure in an Energy Performance Certificate.
The information requested about numbers of surveys completed in support of our Warmer Homes Scotland services has been published as:
Households Warmer Homes Scotland surveyed and delivered energy efficiency measures to: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
For our other Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland schemes, we do not collect or collate separate information about the number of properties that may have benefitted from a survey.
We do not collect or collate information for all schemes about the value of the support provided by local authority area. Information about allocations and spending as part of the Area Based Schemes delivered by local authority is published online and can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/home-energy-efficiency-programmes-for-scotland-annual-final-measures-reports/
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the publication, RentBetter: Research on the impact of changes to the private rented sector tenancy regime in Scotland: Wave 2 Final Report.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of Wave 2 of the ‘RentBetter’ research programme. This research provides a valuable insight into the experiences of households living in, and landlords providing, rental properties in Scotland.
We will consider the findings as part of the evidence to inform policy development for the Year 2 Housing Bill and in finalising the Rented Sector Strategy.
