SFHA launches election manifesto with bold vision for housing in Scotland
Policy programme calls on the next Scottish Government to unlock the potential of Scotland’s housing associations and co-operatives.
SFHA has launched its manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election with a policy platform that sets out a new vision for housing in Scotland.
In its manifesto, Housing Associations: Building Scotland’s Future, which was launched at a campaign event at Elderpark Housing in Glasgow, SFHA has called on the next Scottish Government to prioritise support for housing associations and co-operatives.
Following on from SFHA’s ‘Road to 2026’ series of Policy Papers, the manifesto sets out a new vision for housing in Scotland where everyone has access to a safe, warm, and affordable home.
To make Scotland a healthier, wealthier, and fairer country, the manifesto has called on the next Scottish Government to support housing associations and co-operatives in the following areas:
- Funding to build the homes Scotland needs- the next Scottish Government must deliver £1.6bn of annual public investment to build the 15,693 homes required each year to meet housing need.
- Delivering affordable warmth in our homes- housing associations need clarity on energy efficiency and net-zero standards, as well as fair and significant funding to support making homes more energy efficient.
- Preventing homelessness- commit to long-term tenancy sustainment funding to ensure housing associations can support tenants to remain in their homes.
- Making our homes fit for the future- greater funding for adaptations to ensure our homes are fit for varying needs, as well as a national accessible housing strategy.
- Ending tenant hardship- reform the Scottish Welfare Fund to allow for more flexibility in support. Replace the Investing in Communities Fund with a source that allows housing associations to keep investing in communities.
- Keeping our homes safe and healthy- ensure fair funding for remediation works and extend funding to any issues identified by building assessments.
- Ensuring regulation is proportionate- work in collaboration with the sector to ensure any new regulations are realistic, achievable and focused on delivering the best outcomes for tenants.
