The New Housing Story ?
Graeme Brown, Shelter Scotland
Glasgow, June 22, 2016
Issues facing Britain 2015: Scotland
Top mentions % important issues facing Britain today?
What do you see as the most/other
36%
39%
34%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Unemployment
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Education/Schools
Low pay/fair wages
Ageing society/Social care
Devolution/Scottish Parliament
Base: 1,256 Scottish adults 18+, January –

8%
2%
16%
20%
18%
19%
16%
16%
16%
12%
12%
12%
12%
44%
32%
29%
28%
Scotland
Britain
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Most are satisfied with their
home...
Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your home?
4%
4% 2%
Very satisfied
Fairly satisfied
29%
62%
Base: 1,028 Scottish adults 16+, 9th-16th November 2015
3
Neither
Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor
… there are tenure differences
Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your home?
Satisfied
All
91%
Owner occupied
6%
2%
96%
Private rented
80%
Social rented
82%
Base: 1,028 Scottish adults 16+, 9th-16th November 2015
4
Dissatisfied
14%
11%
Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor
Cost, location and condition all concerns
Which of these, if any, apply to your home?
Owner occupied
15%
It is too far away from family/friends
28%
18%
9%
It is too small/lacks space
21%
19%
8%
The rent/mortgage is too expensive
28%
20%
8%
It is the wrong type of accommodation for my needs
20%
20%
4%
It is in poor condition
It is having a negative impact on my health/the
It is having
a negative
impactwith
on my
health
of other
people living
me
health/the health of other people living with
me
Base: 1,028 Scottish adults 16+, 9th-16th November 2015
5
Private rented
16%
14%
2%
14%
19%
Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor
Aspirations are not
being met
To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree with the following statements
Agree
Everyone should have a right to be able to live in
a decent quality home whether or not they own
it
Getting on the property ladder is one of the
most important ways of getting on in life
These days it is unrealistic to think you can be on the
property ladder
by the
age can
of 35
These days it is unrealistic
to think
you
Disagree
95%
59%
49%
4%
37%
46%
be on the property ladder by the age of 35
Base: 1,028 Scottish adults 16+, 9th-16th November 2015
6
Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor
‘Generational gulf 'means it may get worse
69%
90%
“It is harder for me to buy or rent a home
now than it was for my parents’ generation
when they were my age
l be harder for children of today to buy or
rent a home than it was for me
Base: 1,028 Scottish adults 16+, 9th-16th November 2015
Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor
7
The public understands the
problem
To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree with the following statements
Agree
Unless we build many more new, affordable homes
we will never be able to tackle the country’s housing
problems
87%
I might have to leave my local area in the
future because the cost of housing is too high
Base: 1,028 Scottish adults 16+, 9th-16th November 2015
8
11%
59%
House prices are too high around here
There is enough affordable housing available
to buy or rent in my local area
Disagree
29%
19%
35%
63%
78%
Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor
• Concluding thoughts…
• Growing salience but not electorally
significant
• Feeling that ‘something must be done’ – and
that it will get worse
• But confusion over who/what and what is
affordable?
• PRS the key to improving public attitudes?
• Links between housing and broad social
policy e.g. health and wellbeing.
•
•
•
•
Concluding thoughts…
An issue for the next generation?
Environmental impact
Evidence that concerted pressure can work
e.g. Scottish Government commitment to 50K
homes and London City Mayor elections,
Vancouver and Canadian PM
• The economic story – remember the numbers
• The Housing Journey – a narrative for all?