Policy context

National policy context

Housing provision

The Scottish Government has committed to increasing the number of affordable homes across Scotland The Scottish Government’s ambition “for everyone to have a safe, good quality and affordable home that meets their needs in the place they want to be” is set out in Housing to 2040 (published 2021). Delivering this ambition will have important implications for health and wellbeing.

Some of the central priorities in Housing to 2040:

• target to deliver 100,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% of them being in the social rental sector. 
• introduce a set of housing quality standards that apply to residential properties regardless of tenancy type (i.e. owned, privately rented, or socially rented). 

Relevant strategies and legislation:

• (NPF4 published 2023) provides a framework for spatial development in Scotland.
• Scottish Planning Policy sets out national planning policies.
• The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 includes measures to improve housing quality, particularly in the private rented sector.
• Reform of the Private Rented Sector to ensure that it offers more secure long-term tenures has been progressed through the 2016 Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act.
• A Strategy for Housing for Scotland’s older people (published 2011 and refreshed in 2018) highlights the particular needs of this group and the importance of housing in supporting independent living.
• Scotland’s Sustainable Housing Strategy (2013) highlights the ambition to provide warm, high quality, low-carbon homes and the actions necessary to achieve that.

Fuel poverty

A household is defined as being in fuel poverty if the fuel costs necessary for the home to meet the requisite temperature for the requisite number of hours (plus other reasonable fuel needs) are more than 10% of the household’s adjusted net income, and the household’s remaining income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living for household members (The Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019).

The Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 set targets relating to the eradication of fuel poverty. The target is that in 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty. In any event there should be no more than 5% of households in fuel poverty and no more than 1% in extreme fuel poverty. It is intended that this will help to focus action on those households who are struggling as a result of fuel bills. Specific actions for meeting the statutory targets in reducing fuel poverty have been set out in the 2021 strategy: Tackling fuel poverty in Scotland: a strategic approach.

Energy efficiency

Boosting the energy efficiency of buildings, including housing, is a priority for the Scottish Government, towards its vision for infrastructure that supports Scotland’s resilience and enables inclusive, net zero, and sustainable growth:

• The Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map (2018)sets out plans for homes, as well as businesses and public buildings, to become more energy efficient. The Route Map also describes energy efficiency standards to be applied in the Private Rented Sector, alongside plans for improving energy efficiency in private homes.
• For Social Housing, there are clear energy efficiency standards for social housing (EESSH) (2019)with targets set for 2050.
• Scotland’s Sustainable Housing Strategy (2013) highlights the ambition to provide warm, high quality, low-carbon homes and the actions necessary to achieve that.

Housing standards

Higher and more economical housing standards have the potential to help improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. The extent to which Scotland is committed to tackling health inequalities via housing is reflected in Scotland’s Public Health Priority 1 – a Scotland where we live in vibrant, healthy and safe places and communities. This dedication is also reflected in the Local Housing Strategy: Guidance 2019 which recommends that ‘everyone should have access to an affordable, safe, and warm home’. This focus on housing is not new, instead, it is returning public health back to its historical origins.

Local policy context

As each local authority is responsible for its own housing stock, local housing policies and strategies play a critical role in helping to shape a Scotland with houses that are conducive to health and wellbeing.  One of Public Health Scotland’s predecessors, NHS Health Scotland, produced a Housing Strategies Briefing Paper (2019) which contains detailed information on local housing policies and the role these can play in helping to tackle Scotland’s health crises. 

The Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool is an evidence-based assessment undertaken by Local Authorities to estimate the number of homes required to meet current and future housing needs. The HNDA is used to plan for local housing management and development and for the provision of housing related services over a 5 year period. Local authorities form Housing Market Partnerships to undertake the HNDA, and there are opportunities for Public Health professionals to form part of these partnerships. The HNDA informs the Local Housing Strategy (LHS) which sets out a local authority’s desired outcomes over a 5 year period along with detailed actions to achieve these outcomes. All housing tenures and housing-related services (i.e. homelessness, housing support, & fuel poverty) are represented in the Local Housing Strategy.

Housing services are an integral part of the wider delivery of health and social care integration. As part of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, Housing Contribution Statements are the key mechanism through which housing services are integrated into Integration Authorities’ Strategic Commissioning Plans.