BUDGET: Scots Government must ‘back property investment’
DJ Alexander, one of the biggest agencies in Scotland, says Finance Secretary Shona Robison has to take immediate action to address the country's housing crisis.
Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison must take immediate action in tomorrow’s Budget to deal with the country’s ‘housing emergency’, according to one of the country’s biggest estate agencies.
DJ Alexander says new build construction has stalled, and plans for more rent controls will hit an already overwhelmed PRS.
Robison is due to announce the first Budget under First Minister John Swinney, and the ruling SNP will need support from other parties, like the Greens or Lib Dems to get the Budget through.
Record levels
Scotland has record levels of homelessness, there is unprecedented demand for private rented sector properties, and the lowest number of new build housing starts since 2013, DJ Alexander says.
And as thirteen councils, more than a third of the total, have now declared a housing emergency, it is clear that the housing sector needs immediate and substantial support.
There is an immediate need to support all parts of the housing sector to ensure we start to tackle the current emergency.”
David Alexander, CEO at DJ Alexander Scotland (main picture), says: “There is an immediate need to support all parts of the housing sector to ensure we start to tackle the current emergency.
“Planning must be made easier, there must be greater encouragement for property investment, and more areas for development must be released if Scotland’s housebuilding sector is to grow and produce the homes required over the next decade.”
Immediate action is also needed to give clarity on rent policy, he says,
The Housing Scotland Bill needs to be extensively revised or even dropped altogether.”
“Uncertainty has resulted in stalled investment in the sector and this needs to be addressed immediately if the enormous demand currently being experienced in the sector is to be met.
“The Housing Scotland Bill needs to be extensively revised or even dropped altogether.”
The bill would allow local councils to introduce rent controls in their areas.
Battle looms in Scotland over rent controls as Labour and SNP disagree
Main picture: BBC News
