The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has called for the UK parliament’s housing benefit and immigration powers to be devolved to the Scottish executive.

The SFHA is writing to every candidate standing in Scottish constituencies warning of a “real danger” that major reforms to housing benefit could be introduced that would be inappropriate for the social rented sector in Scotland.

SFHA chief executive David Orr said: “The administration of housing benefit is the one area of housing policy that’s not devolved, so it sticks out like a missing piece of jigsaw.”

Orr said he was concerned about Westminster proposals for the benefit, including suggestions it need not cover the total cost of rent. “If the Scottish executive had responsibility for housing benefit, it could ensure that it did cover the full cost,” he said.

He added: “Associations [should be able to] be housing benefit agents … but the Department of Work and Pensions is not keen on this.”

Orr also said Scotland wants to take a “markedly different” approach to immigration. He said it wanted to help the Fresh Talent Initiative by offering appropriate housing to newcomers, but cannot do so because the Home Office is “working to a different agenda”. The Fresh Talent Initiative aims to attract people from the UK and overseas to live and work in Scotland.

Source

Housing Today