Scotland To Abolish 'Bedroom Tax'

The Scottish government are aiming to abolish the bedroom tax. A new piece of legislation, called the Social Security Bill, will be introduced by the government to combat the effects of welfare policy. Nicola Sturgeon also outlined she would be introducing a bill looking to end Child Poverty, something that has been widely welcomed. However, Scottish Conservatives wanted her to announce a commitment to ensure everyone in Scotland lives in a warm home. Read more on 24dash.

SNP's Rise to Power Is Good News If You Really Care About Housing

The election of so many Scottish National party representatives to Westminster could be a good thing for housing. Since the creation of the Scottish parliament, housing policy north of the border has been a more progressive force than elsewhere in the union. Scotland invested £675m in affordable housing in 2009-10, approving 8,663 new homes at a time when the development rate elsewhere began to tank. A further £970m was budgeted for development in the three year period up to March 2015. Another £463m has been set aside for this financial year. Democratically owned and controlled council housing remains an important focus for Scotland. Of the 4,097 social homes built in 2013, 1,232 of those were council properties. The SNP has also stepped up to protect Scottish social housing from being lost to private ownership under the right-to-buy. Read more n the Guardian website.

Right to Buy Abolished in Scotland

The right to buy will be abolished for new council and housing association tenants in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament has passed the Housing Bill, which will also see a new Scottish Housing Regulator set up and the introduction of a charter for social housing. The right to buy will be abolished for all new homes built in the social sector. The Scottish Government believes this will keep up to 18,000 homes in the social rented sector over the next 10 years. Read full details on the Scottish Parliament website.