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Ministerial Foreword
Housing is at the heart of our communities. But too many people in Scotland live in houses that are in poor condition, or have difficulty living independently because of the design of their houses. Most of these houses are in the private sector. This is an unacceptable situation in 21 st century Scotland and it is time for new and concerted action by government on living conditions for house owners and their families.
Our proposals for implementing the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 represent the most fundamental change for 30 years in national policy on existing private sector housing. They dovetail with our ambitious and radical proposals for housing supply in the Firm Foundations discussion document.
Personal responsibility is at the heart of the new approach for houses. Owners are responsible for maintaining their homes, and the new powers in the Act reflect this principle. But not everyone is able to act on their own, and the new approach aims reach many more people in that position than before and to provide the right assistance where it is most needed.
The new policy draws a much clearer distinction between the position of owners who have bought an unsound house or failed to maintain the house, and of households with disabled family members who need their house to be adapted. Our approach complements our community care policies by enabling disabled people to live more independently in their own homes, with all the benefits that brings for their own well-being and that of their families.
Local authorities are central to the new approach. Their powers affect individual owners and should be used in a way that is sensitive to the local situation and individual circumstances. I ask each local authority to make and deliver local strategies that will protect and enhance the built environment and benefit the communities in its area. The guidance gives the national framework of policy and support while allowing local authorities a great deal of flexibility. I believe this is a good example of the new relationship expressed by the Concordat between national and local government.
I would like to thank all those involved - local authorities and a range of voluntary and private sector organisations - for their constructive contributions to this draft guidance. I very much look forward to receiving views from all those who are interested in the condition and suitability of houses in the private sector and in the new approach to partnership working between the Scottish Government and local authorities.
Stewart Maxwell
Minister for Communities and Sport
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