Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has received an optimistic response from the Scottish Government on the future of social housing in the Highlands.

Mr Thompson wrote to the Minister for Housing and Transport, Keith Brown, to enquire about plans to change and improve the current system of allocating social housing. Mr Brown’s response said that the Scottish Government has committed to increasing the supply of social rented housing and to changing the way social housing is allocated and managed. The result is that legislative constraints on landlords’ allocations would be minimised and landlords would have greater flexibility and responsibility in determining who should have priority for social housing locally. An on-going consultation, Affordable Rented Housing: Creating flexibility for landlords and better outcomes for communities, (which is available on the Scottish Government's website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/02/9972/0) is looking at proposals to change the allocation and management of social housing. The deadline for responses is 30 April 2012.

Mr Thompson said, “One of the problems that I am often presented with is the long waiting times, low levels of stock and unfair allocation of social housing in my constituency. That is why I asked Mr Brown whether he was going to do anything to improve the situation.

“The answer that I have received is optimistic and hopeful. Giving landlords greater flexibility in the allocation of points locally will mean that we can reduce waiting times and allow landlords to rent their property more quickly.

I would encourage as many people as possible to respond to the on-going consultation.”