New Proposals Discriminate Against Scotland's Young

Shelter Scotland says social housing should be available to everyone.

It's feared young people could be discriminated against if controversial new housing proposals are adopted.

The Scottish Government is considering allowing social landlords to base their decision on who is allocated a social home by age.

The proposal has been added to the draft Housing (Scotland) Bill and is supported by the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and COSLA.

Shelter Scotland says the move would be another attack on young people who are already getting a raw deal as they face high youth unemployment, high rents in the private rented sector and the threat of losing their housing benefit entitlement under a future Westminster government.

The housing charity says the move is wholly unnecessary pointing out that the allocation of social housing under current law must be determined by the needs and circumstances of the household not the age of the applicant, and that a strong national framework already exists that defines priority groups and permitted practices – age is not a factor. They also point out that social landlords already have powers to make best use of lets via local lettings initiatives.

Shelter Scotland is asking members of the public and politicians to support its Age Factor Campaign by signing up online at shelterscotland.org/agefactor and using social media to spread the word using #agefactor

The move to allow discrimination by age has already been strongly criticised by a powerful coalition of leading Scottish charities, including Barnardo’s Scotland, Children 1^st and Who Cares? Scotland (1). Spearheaded by Shelter Scotland, they wrote to Scotland’s Housing and Welfare Minister, Margaret Burgess MSP last month to warn that removing the current ban on considering the age of an applicant when allocating social housing could lead to vulnerable and young people being discriminated against.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, says:

“Coming on the back of threats from the UK Government to remove housing benefit entitlement from under 25 year-olds and high youth unemployment, this move would be a further attack on the aspirations of a younger generation already facing major challenges finding work and a home of their own.

“The housing safety net exists to protect all who need it.  By removing this important safeguard there is a very real danger that vulnerable groups and young people in particular will be unfairly penalised and will not be allocated the homes they desperately need and are entitled to.

“Allowing age to be taken into consideration when allocating social homes would be a big step backwards and we think CIH Scotland, SFHA and COSLA have got it wrong.  We oppose this proposal and ask the Scottish Government to think again.

“Everyone needs a secure affordable home - whatever their age - and we will campaign vigorously to protect the rights and interests of all of Scotland’s 597,000 households living in social housing and the 155,100 on council waiting lists.”