The Scottish Government

Housing Improvement Task Force Background to Stage One

Introduction

The then Minister for Communities announced the establishment of the Task Force on 12 December 2000. It's terms and reference are to consider:

• The forms of financial assistance available for owner occupiers;
• The powers available to local authorities to compel private owner to invest in their properties;
• The likely effect of providing better information as part of the house purchase process- taking account of proposals for sellers surveys and sellers packs;
• The arrangements in place for the management of flatted blocks in private ownership;
• The proposals for stronger regulation of the privately rented sector, for example, by extending the existing arrangements which have been recently introduced for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs); and
• The effect of tenancy legislation in the private rented sector.

At its first meeting on 28 March 2001 the Task Force agreed to work through four sub groups to produce an "issues" report examining the legal administrative and financial elements currently in place which prevent or encourage housing improvement. This report is to be published early in 2002.

Click here to see the stage one membership of the Task Force

Click here to see the remits and membership of each of the stage one sub groups

Click here to see the papers for the full HITF Stage One Meetings

Click here if you want to see details of the submissions and responses made to the HITF in relation to stage one work