TO BE PUBLISHED October 2020
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will assess The Scottish Government’s strategy for housing and the new framework for regulation.
It will be an opportunity to discuss Housing to 2040 - the Government’s draft vision and principles for housing communities in Scotland.
Delegates will hear directly from Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, on next steps following a recent consultation on the draft vision.
Key areas for discussion:
Of course we expect discussion on the day to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the housing sector and those working on it in Scotland - and the role played by the sector in response, as well as:
- early indications on progress in restarting the housing market
- supporting the resilience of the housing sector for the future
- how to serve changing consumer and societal priorities in the wake of the pandemic in the areas such as provision of housing that supports health, the environment and new ways of working
However the principal overall focus of this conference is the long-term strategy for the future direction of housing policy, with its emphasis on high quality housing and well-designed communities, sustainability, and homes that meet peoples’ needs.
We expect discussion on:
- Implementation of the regulatory framework for social housing in Scotland, which was introduced last year
- The implications of the regulatory framework from the Scottish Housing Regulator and priorities for the private rented sector, including:
- the potential effectiveness of the framework in encouraging the culture of assurance, openness and transparency outlined as an aim by the Regulator
- controlling rent in the private sector, with reports that the Scottish Housing Regulator will be engaging with registered social landlords on the affordability of rents
- The Scottish Government's recent response to its consultation on short term lets - including the potential to give powers to local authorities to introduce short term let control areas - following the passage of the Planning Act
- Addressing challenges of homelessness and child poverty, and the requirements of an ageing population, looking at:
- the implementation of measures outlined in Ending Homelessness Together - including the provision of £4.5m for third sector organisations on the frontline aimed at supporting them to innovate and transform services
- meeting the needs of older people and adaptability of housing to ensure that they are able to live independently for longer - and what this could mean for reducing pressures on the health and social care system
- increasing housing affordability and lowering house running costs for families with children
- Balancing the interests of tenants and landlords in both the private rented and social housing sectors
- Improving existing housing stock and conditions in both sectors, including how to ensure that housing stock run by local authorities and social landlords meets the Scotland housing quality standard
- Progress made since the introduction of the Private Housing (Tenancies)(Scotland) Act 2016, which introduced a new open-ended private residential tenancy and measures to control excessive rent increases, including allowing local authorities to introduce 'rent pressure zones' where rent rises for existing tenants are restricted
- The concept of a single standard for all properties across all tenures
Developments that are relevant to the discussion:
The agenda:
- The Scottish Government’s strategy for housing across Scotland
- Assessing Housing to 2040 and the route map: accessibility, affordability and energy efficiency
- Meeting Scotland’s housing needs: homelessness, supporting an ageing population, and tackling poverty
- Social housing and the private rental sector: balancing the interests of tenants and landlords, improving existing housing stock and controlling rent increases in the private sector
- The regulatory framework from the Scottish Housing Regulator: implications for tenants and Registered Social Landlords
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from The Scottish Parliament, and officials from The Scottish Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
