Aberdeen City Council declares housing emergency

Aberdeen City Council has today become the ninth Scottish local authority to declare a housing emergency.

It follows the Scottish Government declaring a nation-wide housing emergency in May.

A motion went before councillors of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee today calling for an action plan to address "a perilous situation".

The motion to declare a housing emergency received cross-party support.

The local authority will now write to both Scottish and UK Governments advising them of the "grave situation" and requesting immediate support.

In reports to the committee, it was detailed homeless applications in the city were sitting at a 13-year high at the end of March 2024.

In April 2022, there were 4,750 applications for housing which increased to 6,658 by May 2024.

'Housing emergency exasperated by RAAC'

The motion also mentioned the housing emergency has been exasperated by 366 council homes being lost due to RAAC with residents required to be transferred to alternative properties.

It is highlighted the council is footing the bill for the majority of the costs being incurred by the Balnagask RAAC crisis and faces unprecedented pressures.

The declaration for a housing emergency in Aberdeen City has been called upon by several organisations, led by Shelter Scotland, who yesterday wrote an open letter to the local authority claiming 'business as usual is not working'.

The letter was signed by nine housing, homelessness and social justice organisations in Aberdeen.

Alison Watson, Shelter Scotland Director today welcomed the news: "The number of children in temporary accommodation has more than doubled in the last year, people’s housing rights are being breached with increased regularity, and hundreds of council homes are being lost due to RAAC; Aberdeen is clearly in a housing emergency.

“Today councillors from across the political spectrum have shown leadership, taking the bold step of declaring a housing emergency and, more importantly, committing to doing something about it.

“Of course, we recognise that Aberdeen City Council can’t be expected to pick up the pieces of an utterly broken system on its own, both the UK and Scottish governments must share responsibility.

"However, it’s clear that every level of government has a duty to respond to the worsening situation and today must be the start of that process.

“It’s vitally important the words are now swiftly followed by action. Shelter Scotland and other organisations working on the front line of Aberdeen’s housing emergency stand ready to support the council as it prepares its action plan; this is just the start of a journey that only ends when everyone in the city has somewhere safe, secure and affordable to call home.”

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