Focus on influencing Scotland - May 2025

Welcome to our latest focus on influencing Scotland newsletter, which provides an update on our latest policy and influencing work.

Last month, we were pleased to announce new research, jointly commissioned by CIH Scotland, SFHA and ALACHO, to identify what is needed in Scotland in terms of funding, systems and support to provide aids and adaptations to older and disabled people. The research will be led by Professor Vikki McCall from the University of Stirling and will look at current and future demand for aids and adaptations, as well as reforms needed to support people to continue to live as independently as they can in their own homes, including following a stay in hospital.

We have also announced the appointment of Indigo House to conduct an evaluation of culture and leadership in the Scottish social housing sector. The review will seek to assess the strength and areas for development with regards to culture and leadership, how landlords consider these factors, and how and if this could be improved at an individual, organisational and systemic level, with the final report expected to be published in the autumn.

Following the announcement by the Scottish Government that the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill, which would require homeowners to switch to greener heating systems shortly after purchasing a new home, will not be brought forward in its current form, we have supported calls from Scottish businesses to the First Minister to keep his commitment to the Bill. The open letter highlights industry concern that “further delay in the introduction of the Heat in Buildings Bill will mean it may not be passed ahead of the 2026 election” and that “the cost of delay is lost job opportunities and another winter of cold homes”.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the Housing (Scotland) Bill which is making its way through Parliament. The consultation seeks views on how powers within the Bill could be used to exempt certain types of properties from rent control and the circumstances where rents could be increased above the level of any introduced rent cap. We have produced a new briefing for members which outlines the main points of the consultation and would be keen to hear your thoughts on the proposals to help shape our response.

This week also marks National Hoarding Awareness Week which aims to raise awareness of hoarding disorder and behaviour and in turn, lead to better access to resources, earlier intervention, and more effective treatment options. Our policy and practice manager Ashley Campbell has produced a new blog which explores the impact of hoarding, and how housing professionals can help.

Finally following the publication of the Programme for Government in early May, CIH Scotland met with the Housing Minister Paul McLennan MSP to discuss the priorities for the housing sector. This was to better understand the detail of the prospectus and to gain assurance that some of the issues not in the Programme, including a response to the Grenfell Phase 2 report and the enactment of the Domestic Abuse (Protection Orders) Act 2021 which will give social landlords powers to support victims of domestic abuse, remain Scottish Government priorities.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of our work in more detail, please get in touch.

Callum Chomczuk
National director, CIH Scotland
callum.chomczuk@cih.org