Call for action on 'slum' housing

The condition of homes in Glasgow was condemned

Candidates in the Holyrood elections are being urged to campaign to rid Scotland of 66,000 "slum" properties.

The condition of the homes has been described as a disgrace by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

It has set up an election manifesto website to highlight the problem.

The disastrous houses which still exist in Scotland will undermine the good work of every government department, unless more is done

Anne Lear
SFHA chairwoman

And the organisation, which represents almost 200 housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland, claimed sub-standard houses were only the tip of the iceberg.

It said another 500,000 properties - a third of the homes in the public rented sector - suffered from damp.

The SHFA website identified Govanhill in Glasgow as one area where it believes housing is in crisis.

It gave the example of one flat occupied by a couple who were expecting a child.

Pictures showed mouldy walls, no bath or washing machine and a toilet which was little more than a hole in the floor.

Vital issue

Other photographs showed broken windows and a close with pools of water on the floor and rubbish strewn everywhere.

The federation condemned the continued existence of 21st century slums.

It said this was a vital issue for voters and called on candidates from all parties to recognise that Scotland's housing was screaming out for investment.

Problems with sub-standard housing were identified

SFHA chairwoman Anne Lear said the Scottish Parliament had paid some real attention to housing over the last four years.

But she warned: "The disastrous houses which still exist in Scotland will undermine the good work of every government department, unless more is done."

The federation wants the parliament to define a basic decency standard for housing within a year of the election and set out a timetable for its implementation.

It has called for increased investment to deliver at least 10,000 new or improved homes each year.

And it described tenants' right to buy as one of the greatest threats to people looking for good quality affordable rented housing.

"We now ask MSPs to abolish the right to buy altogether for new tenants of local authorities and housing associations," said the website.