Social housing in Scotland comprises housing managed by public authorities (councils) and housing associations (Registered Social Landlords or RSLs).
Public authority stock levels have been decreasing each year since the 1980s. This is mainly due to tenants buying their homes under Right to Buy coupled with a decline in the number of new public authority dwellings being built, as well as community ownership programmes whereby a public authority transfers either all or part of its housing stock and management function to RSLs.
The Government is recently consulted on a draft Housing Bill, which included proposals to end the right to buy on new social housing and modernise the way social housing is regulated. We will publish a report on the consultation in October 2009 and the Bill will be introduced to Parliament next year.
Further information on housing statistics is available in the Statistics topic.
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 introduced a range of new rights for tenants of housing associations and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in Scotland.
Information relating to Local Housing Allowance and other rent-related matters can be found either on the LHA Direct website or in the Private Renting topics section.