A consultation on improving Temporary Accommodation Standards

Closed 14 Aug 2019

Opened 22 May 2019

Feedback updated 11 Feb 2021

We asked

In May 2019, the Scottish Government Homelessness team sought views on extending the seven-day restriction on time spent in unsuitable temporary accommodation to all people experiencing homelessness. Sought views on whether new advisory standards for temporary accommodation should be prepared and asked what a legally enforceable temporary accommodation standards framework should look like. 

You said

In total 387 responses were received to the consultation. 65 direct responses with 24 from individual local authorities, 31 from organisations and 10 from individuals, 3 of whom had lived experience of homelessness. 322 responses were received on a shortened version of the consultation via Crisis. 26 of whom were from people with lived experience of homelessness.

The majority of responses agreed the Unsuitable Accommodation Order should be extended to all homeless households and new advisory standards for temporary accommodation should be created. 

We did

In May 2020 we extended the Unsuitable Accommodation Order to all homeless households.

New advisory standards for temporary accommodation were prepared and published in the interim Homelessness Code of Guidance in November 2019.

In 2021 we will begin work on what a legally enforceable temporary accommodation standards framework should look like.

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

We want to ensure that consistent high quality standards are applied across all temporary accommodation. We also want to understand how we can extend the Unsuitable Accommodation Order to all homeless households. 

Why your views matter

The Programme for Government announced by the First Minister on 5 September 2017 set out a new commitment to eradicate rough sleeping, transform the use of temporary accommodation in Scotland and end homelessness. The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) was subsequently established to initiate these transformational changes and provided 70 recommendations to Scottish Ministers, including extending the Unsuitable Accommodation Order to all homeless households and introducing a legally enforceable standards framework.

Read the consultation paper.

What happens next

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to help us. Responses will be published where we have been given permission to do so. An anaylsis report will also be made available.

Interests

  • Housing and Regeneration