The Scottish Federation of Housing Associates (SFHA) launched its manifesto today, in which it calls for increased investment in affordable housing and for proposals for Right to Buy to be extended to Housing Associations to be scrapped.

The manifesto sets out the SFHA’s five key demands, which include: an increased programme of investment in high quality, sustainable rented housing; more mid-rent and Low Cost Home Ownership schemes in designated ‘hot spot’ areas; a Land Release programme aimed at boosting the supply of affordable rented housing in places people want to live; the abandonment of the proposed extension of the Right to Buy to Housing Associations; and funding to help people with housing support needs to maintain their tenancies and live independently.

Jacqui Watt, chief executive, SFHA said: "Last month we joined with other national housing bodies to publish a joint manifesto for Scottish housing. Today we unveil our own manifesto, aimed at hammering home the key, specific priorities of our members.

"Between them our 231 members house one in ten of the Scottish population. This represents voting power that no political party can afford to ignore. Now is the time to raise the profile of important issues in Scottish housing.

"We want the political parties to commit to action over the next four years to deliver more investment, more land, more support and greater security for housing in Scotland."

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