Concern over Drop in Number of Housing Association Completions

Published by SFHA for Scottish Federation Of Housing Associations in Housing and also in Communities

Commenting on the housing statistics released today (Wednesday 6th March) by Scotland’s Chief Statistician, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) expressed concern over the drop in the number of housing association completions.

SFHA Policy Manager Susan Torrance said:

 "There were 304 housing association completions in quarter 4 of 2012, bringing the annual total for 2012 to 3,198. This is a 27% decrease on 4,391 completions in 2011. (1)

"While the statistics refer to changes in funding and advise caution in drawing conclusions, the clear trend is a significant decrease in starts on site and completions over the last five years and this marries with our market intelligence from housing associations about the difficulties of building new homes.

“To keep rents at levels which enable those on the lowest wages to rent a home whilst lowering the benefits bill for the country, to build good quality sustainable and energy efficient homes and to augment public resources with private borrowing – these are objectives which are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. For the sake of the communities in which Scotland's housing associations and co-operatives work, we need to be building social rented homes to meet Government targets, but we are very concerned that numbers are dropping as cuts to average grant levels bite home."

 ends

For further information, contact Kirsten Walker on 0141 567 6221 t: m: 0788 788 8348 or e: kwalker@sfha.co.uk

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NOTES:
1. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuild
2. The SFHA was established in 1976 and has around 119 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance. www.sfha.co.uk
3. The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40% of the country’s affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.
4. Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.