Review of the Scottish Social Housing Charter

Date: 15th June 2016
Category: Social security

The Scottish Social Housing Charter was introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Following this consultation, Scottish Government will develop an updated version of the Charter and ask the Scottish Parliament to consider the changes and approve a new Charter from 1st April 2017.

This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Social Housing Charter. The Charter sets the outcomes and standards that all social landlords should be achieving for their tenants and other customers through their housing activities. The Act requires Ministers to review the Charter standards and outcomes from time to time. The current Charter remains in force until 31st March 2017.

The Concluding Observations released by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in June 2016 state a number of recommendations regarding housing standards in relation to the standard of living for children and young people. The Committee draws the attention of the UK State party to the Sustainable Development Goal 1, Target 1.2, on poverty reduction and recommendation 69(f) urges the UK State party to:

"Take necessary measures to reduce homelessness and to progressively guarantee all children stable access to adequate housing which provides physical safety, adequate space, protection against the threats to health and structural hazards, including cold, damp, heat and pollution, and accessibility for children with disabilities."

The Committee also remains concerned that in Scotland, adequate and culturally sensitive accommodation for Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children remains insufficient.

• Access the consultation here.