Housing statistics 2018: key trends summary

Scheme of Assistance

In 2017-18, councils provided householders with 214,286 instances of help. Most of these (96%) were non-financial.

In 2017-18, 9,049 scheme of assistance grants were paid to householders, a 14% decrease (or 1,434 fewer grants) than 2016-17. Scheme of Assistance grants totalled £29.8 million, which is around £2 million less than in 2016-17. The majority of these were for disabled adaptions, 5,599 grants which is 6% less than the 2016-17 figure of 5,967. Disabled adaptation grants in 2017-18 totalled £21.9 million which is less than the 2016-17 figure of £22.8 million.

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 introduced a new Scheme of Assistance, which replaced the previous system of private sector home improvement grants. The scheme also aims to encourage home owners to take more responsibility for the condition of their homes, to ensure that private housing in Scotland is kept in a decent state of repair. Home owners are primarily responsible for their own property under their title deeds, but local authorities have statutory powers to maintain and improve the general condition of private sector housing in their area. If an owner needs help to look after their home, the Scheme of Assistance allows local authorities broad discretionary powers to provide assistance. This assistance can be provided through advice and guidance, practical help, or through financial assistance by way of grants or loans. It is for the local authority to determine what kinds of assistance are made available on the basis of local priorities and budgets.

Local authorities must provide assistance to owners who have been served a statutory work notice requiring them to bring a house into a reasonable state of repair. Local authorities must also provide assistance by way of grant^[4] for most work to adapt homes to meet the needs of disabled people, other than for home extensions. All other assistance is discretionary. Under the Scheme of Assistance local authorities must prepare a statement providing information about the assistance that is available locally.

In 2017-18, councils provided householders with 214,286 instances of help. Most of this help (205,237 cases or 96% of all cases) was in the form of non-financial assistance such as website hits, leaflets or advice. Total spending was almost £38.6 million. 5,599 grants were paid to disabled households totalling £21.9 million; a further 3,450 grants were paid to other households totalling £7.9 million.

Link to tables on housing for older people and people with disabilities: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/SoA