Mark Griffin

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are (a) required and (b) provided with guidance to record the grounds on which a tenant is evicted when (i) presenting as homeless and (ii) receiving notice under section 11 of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not require local authorities to record the grounds on which a tenant is evicted when they present as homeless. Section 11 of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 requires a landlord to notify the local authority when procee…

8 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next publish the tenant grant fund monitoring information; how regularly it will continue to publish the information, and what the latest (a) expenditure, (b) grant and (b) refusal figures are that it has received, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) period covered.

Answer · Shona Robison: The next set of data will cover the three month period up to 31 March 2022 and will be published once all 32 local authorities have provided the relevant information. This was requested from local authorities in April and reminders were sent in May and June. …

7 Jun 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the support capacity of Home Energy Scotland was before this was increased by 12,000 households.

6 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01176 by Shona Robison on 1 June 2022, what the source was for the cabinet secretary's comment that "mortgage approvals for first-time buyers have increased by 13% in the 12-month period to quarter 1 in 2022, from the amount in the period up to quar…

Answer · Shona Robison: This data is taken from UK Finance statistics, and relates to mortgage advances for home purchase extended by lenders to first-time buyers in Scotland. Over the 12 months to March 2022, there were 34,310 mortgage advances for home purchase extended to first-t…

2 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01176 by Shona Robison on 1 June 2022, how many people have been helped onto the property ladder through government schemes in each Scottish Parliament region in each year since 2016-17.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information on properties purchased through the Scottish Government shared equity schemes (Help to Buy (Scotland), the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme, New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) and the First Home Fund is not recorded by Scottish Parliamenta…

1 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the social justice secretary regarding the impact on rural and island communities of second home ownership.

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the use of the eviction grounds in part 1, schedule 3 of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, in light of research from Generation Rent that reportedly found that one-third of private landlords granted an eviction order at tribunal in order to sell …

Answer · Patrick Harvie: We have already committed in Housing to 2040 to review and consider potential reforms to the current eviction grounds under the Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) after 5 years of operation, which will be at the end of this year. We have already started to se…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what index or mechanism it uses to review the Open Market Shared Equity thresholds.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Open Market Shared Equity thresholds are reviewed annually each December to reflect the overall movement in average house prices across all transactions over the previous financial year in each area, based on house price data from Registers of Scotland on…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06256 by Shona Robison on 24 February 2022, whether discussions on the proposed distribution of the Financial Transactions available for 2022-23 have concluded and allocations for the full use of these funds have been agreed.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Affordable Housing Supply Programme was allocated £134 million in Financial Transactions in 2022-23 and we have recently agreed that £60 million will be made available for the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme and £74 million for the Charitable Bond demand…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08560 by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022, what its strategy is for managing exits (a) holistically and (b) on a case-by-case basis.

Answer · Shona Robison: The private rented sector has seen a steady increase in size over the last 20 years, more than doubling in size, with some annual fluctuations. We will continue to monitor the whole housing market using the Landlord Register along with other statistical infor…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08560 by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022, how rapidly the register and other official statistics provides this data.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Landlord Registration provides data on the number of private landlord registrations, for example in relation to the number of new applications, renewals made and the number of properties these relate to, on a monthly basis. Official statistics o…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08560 by Shona Robison on 25 May 2022, what information the register records regarding the subsequent (a) destination of any tenants leaving properties that have exited, including the homeless presentations made to their local authority, and (b) use…

Answer · Shona Robison: The propose of the Landlord Register is to enable Local Authorities to complete checks on private landlords. Most private landlords are required to apply for registration with their local authority under Part 8 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act…

24 May 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Central Scotland have been helped onto the property ladder through government schemes since 2016-17.

23 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Home Owners' Support Fund rules in light of rising interest rates and the cost of living crisis.

Answer · Shona Robison: At present, there is no marked increase in applications to the Home Owners Support Fund (HOSF). However, to ensure the scheme has maximum impact as part of our response to the current economic situation, I can confirm my officials are currently reviewing HOSF…

23 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the guidance, capital and equity limits, and eligibility criteria in relation to the Home Owners' Support Fund.

Answer · Shona Robison: My officials are currently reviewing the operational and delivery arrangements for the Home Owners Support Fund to consider what improvements can be made, including capital and equity arrangements for the scheme.  

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Affordable Housing Supply Programme process and procedures facilitate the purchase of properties exiting the private rented sector in order to maintain the homes of tenants affected, in light of the publication, RentBetter: Research on the impact of changes to the private rented …

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government already invests significantly through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and works with private sector funders and suppliers to maximise the delivery of the right homes in the right places. While the Affordable Housing Supply Prog…

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors (a) landlord and (b) stock exits from the private rental sector, and what its policy is for managing these exits.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Landlord Register provides data on the number of private landlord registrations, for example in relation to the number of new applications, renewals made and the number of properties these relate to. The Scottish Government uses this information…

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the requirement for affordable housing supply programme "buy-backs" to take place on the open market only.

Answer · Shona Robison: Following a recent review, we will be publishing updated guidance on the operation of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme over the coming weeks so that Councils and Registered Social Landlords can apply for grant funding to enable them to purchase existin…

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the publication, RentBetter: Research on the impact of changes to the private rented sector tenancy regime in Scotland: Wave 2 Final Report.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of Wave 2 of the ‘RentBetter’ research programme. This research provides a valuable insight into the experiences of households living in, and landlords providing, rental properties in Scotland. We will conside…

10 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07448 by Shona Robison on 19 April 2022, whether it will also consult on the review of adaptations.

Answer · Shona Robison: As set out in our Housing to 2040 strategy, we are taking forward a review of the current housing adaptations system and will make recommendations on how best to improve and streamline the system. As part of that work we will engage with key stakeholders late…

10 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to assess the viability, and design policy and legislation to deliver compulsory sale and rent orders.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities already have broad compulsory purchase powers which are used for a range of purposes, including restoration of property which may be vacant, derelict or unsafe. Scottish Government officials continue to support and advise local authorities i…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a feasibility assessment and consultation to consider a new system for the registration of boiler sales and installations, for the purposes of managing the phase-out of fossil fuel boilers. R

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government has committed to phasing out the need to install new or replacement boilers in off-gas grid homes from 2025 and in on-gas grid areas from 2030. The Scottish Government continues to conside…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether fabric efficiency regulations will require compliance at specified points in the building lifecycle, including (a) sale, (b) re-let, (c) major renovation, (d) conversion and (e) extension.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy (7 October 2021), committed to introducing primary legislation in the current session of the Scottish Parliament that would set a regulatory framework for heat and energy efficiency, as a key action to meeting Scotland’s statu…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether new minimum energy efficiency standards will be set at the level of fabric efficiency necessary in conjunction with heat distribution system.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy (7 October 2021), committed to introducing primary legislation in the current session of the Scottish Parliament that would set a regulatory framework for heat and energy efficiency, as a key action to meeting Scotland’s statu…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its reform of EPC ratings for fabric efficiency standard will use an energy demand metric in kWh/m2/yr, based on the energy demand for space heating and cooling only.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide an assessment of the modelled energy performance of buildings. The Scottish Government recognises that the information presented on EPCs needs to be reformed in line with the recommendations of the Climate Change…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, for each Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) programme, (a) how many homes were (i) surveyed and (ii) in receipt of energy efficiency measures and (b) what the value was of that support, in each financial year (A) 2016-17, (B) 2017-18, (C) 2018-19, (D) 2019-20, (E) 20…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Information relating to the number of homes receiving measures from Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland (HEEPS) schemes for the last five years has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 63123). Properties benefitting …

9 May 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making to support people in Scotland, in light of the reported comments by the chief executive of Scottish Power warning that 10 million UK homes could potentially be in fuel poverty this winter.

26 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many quotes single building assessment participants are required to obtain and submit to the Scottish Government.

Answer · Shona Robison: Within our pilot model, applicants are required to obtain up to three quotes to participate in the Single Building Assessment programme.  

26 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07060 by Shona Robison on 17 March 2022, what the key stages are of assessment, and how many properties are at each stage of assessment.

Answer · Shona Robison: Single Building Assessment applicants are supported through the process to complete the application form and commission professional services ahead of receiving the final survey report. 15 pilot blocks are within the Application Phase. 10 pilot blocks are wit…

26 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is included on the Single Building Assessment Register of Assessors.

Answer · Shona Robison: As we move through the next phase of this programme of work, where we directly procure assessors for buildings receiving Single Building Assessments, we will compile a list of the appropriately qualified professionals contracted to carry out this work.