Question reference: S5W-04642
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 10 November 2016
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 November 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the (a) housing needs of older people and (b) demand for retirement housing.
Answer
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 places a responsibility on Local Authorities to prepare a Local Housing Strategy (LHS) supported by an assessment of housing need and demand and the provision of related services. Housing Need and Demand Assessments (HNDA) include an assessment of the housing needs of older people. The Scottish Government has provided local authorities with guidance on this.
The housing needs that are covered in HNDAs and which are most relevant to older people include: accessible and adapted housing, wheelchair housing, supported provision and care & support services for independent living at home. The Scottish Government appraise HNDAs to ensure they are robust and credible. HNDAs are undertaken every five years and authorities are encouraged to monitor and update HNDAs annually. The Scottish Government also asks authorities to publish completed HNDAs on their websites.