Housing Emergency

As an amendment to motion S6M-14719 in the name of Anas Sarwar (Housing Emergency), insert at end “; further believes that an adequate response would include raising additional revenue for affordable housing by increasing the additional dwelling supplement, investing in the retrofitting and refurbishment of existing buildings to provide additional affordable housing, supporting the employment of local empty homes officers, piloting a micro-housing building standard and investing in the development of traditional building skills across the country through the provision of a mobile training unit; considers that a robust system of rent controls and tenant protections, as introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Bill, will form a vital component of ensuring the affordability of housing costs and the improvement of tenants’ rights; believes that the homelessness protections in the Housing (Scotland) Bill must be secured, and calls on the UK Government to reverse the cuts to Scotland’s capital budget, which has decreased in real terms by £1.6 billion over the last five years, that have severely limited the ability to invest in good quality, affordable housing.”