SFHA Welcomes Scottish Government Halt to Funding Cuts for Home Adaptations

The SFHA has welcomed the news that the Scottish Government is to review its unpopular and unworkable proposals to change the funding of housing adaptations by housing associations and co-operatives.

A change in policy, announced just the day before coming into effect April 1st, meant that housing associations would have had to fund the first £1,000 of any adaptations work. Previously the threshold was £150.

An SFHA member survey revealed that over half of recent adaptations cost over £1,000. The government's proposals meant that associations in Scotland would collectively have to find approximately an extra £8.4m from already squeezed budgets.

At an SFHA hustings in Glasgow on 7th April, then Housing Minister Alex Neil committed to a review of the policy following a heated questioning from the audience.

SFHA Chief Executive Mary Taylor said:

"The SFHA is very pleased that the Scottish Government has listened to our requests for a review and for consultation with the Adaptations Working Group. We are also pleased they have reinstated the previous £150 funding threshold, while the review is carried out.

"The changes to funding, announced with no consultation at the very end of the last parliament, caused widespread anger amongst associations and co-operatives and would have meant that badly-needed housing adaptations could not be carried out.

"That's why the SFHA wrote to ministers immediately before and after the election urging them to think again.

"Housing adaptations are a cost-effective way of helping people to stay in their homes for longer, improving their quality of life and avoiding needless and costly hospital admissions. During the consultation we will work constructively with government for a sensible, workable and properly-funded adaptations policy.

"This is an opportunity for different government policy areas - health and housing - to work together more effectively for the benefit of Scotland and the public purse."