Glasgow has faced criticism for breaching homelessness laws despite substantial spending.
Spending on temporary housing soared from £2.256 million monthly to £8.410 million between 2019 and 2024. Complaints triggered a housing regulator investigation, which focused on human rights law. The probe began before the pandemic.
The money spent could have built nearly 1400 settled affordable homes. Instead, people stay in temporary places, including B&Bs and makeshift homes. The council turned away many homeless households.
Councils must offer temporary housing after assessing someone as unintentionally homeless. Breaches numbered 3,786 in 2019/20, and the council was reported to the housing regulator then. Recent data reveals 12,580 breaches, which happened from April 2023 to September 2024.
Scotland saw 2,000 similar breaches between April and September 2023. That number jumped to 7,545 in the same period of 2024. Almost as many breaches occurred in six months of 2024/25 compared to the whole of 2023/24.
Glasgow accounted for 84% of recent breaches, totaling 6,320 violations in six months. A housing regulator scrutinized this city four years ago, and a tenants’ organization called it “mismanagement.” They want permanent homes for the homeless.
Living Rent claimed the system is broken, saying the council puts vulnerable people at risk. They highlight mothers and children needing help. The Scottish Government funds the housing regulator, which in 2020, found the council failed to provide enough temporary housing before the pandemic.
Shelter Scotland sued Glasgow City Council, challenging the council denying people their legal rights. The regulator concluded the council withheld housing, impacting many needing temporary places. In 2019/20, there were 3,786 failures.
The number of failures has doubled in the latest six-month period. The regulator stated the council “failed” its “statutory duty,” affecting almost one in three people needing help. The council created a new strategy as a result.
The housing regulator plans meetings with Glasgow and Edinburgh, both cities having declared housing emergencies. Law requires councils to house homeless people, including providing advice and other needed assistance.
Since 2019/20, £277.302 million went toward temporary housing. In 2024/25, £84.085 million was spent; over £106 million housed people in B&Bs or hotels, and the remaining funds covered other lodging.
Scotland completed 19,980 affordable, publicly supported houses in two years, ending last March. It fell short of the 11,300-homes-a-year target, and about 87,527 homes still need completion, meaning needing about 11,670 each year.
Living Rent wants long-term solutions now, suggesting building more social housing targeting very inflated high rents. The Scottish Tenants Organisation wants changes, so monies must build permanent homes instead.
The First Minister reversed a nearly £200 million cut impacting affordable homes, but campaigners say it isn’t enough to end the housing crisis. The Herald has a seven-point plan to help, calling for more affordable homes to get built.
The Scottish government’s budget was cut earlier, with a cumulative hit of over £280 million. However, there was a pledge of £80 million. If adjusted for inflation, the budget lacks £573 million.
Ministers were warned that over £9 billion is needed to build required affordable homes by 2032. A council spokesperson stated their duty to find housing, using hotels and B&Bs since demand increases so rapidly.
The Housing Minister says the government wants fewer people in temporary housing. He says the key is to increase the housing supply, providing £40 million to local authorities, and nearly £600 million will be provided in 2024-25 for housing. They plan to provide record funding for councils.