2. Scottish Homes Rented Housing
Introduction
Communities Scotland, which was previously Scottish Homes, is Scotland's national housing agency, whose main purpose is to help provide good housing and contribute to the regeneration of local communities. Communities Scotland funds the provision of new and improved homes by housing associations and private developers, carries out major research projects and through HomePoint has a significant role in supporting the provision of information and advice. It also has responsibility for managing some housing stock of its own. Details about the functions of Communities Scotland can be found on the web at www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 created a new Executive Agency - Communities Scotland - to take on a wider strategic role. However, the housing stock owned by Scottish Homes was not transferred and the stock is still managed by Scottish Homes. Tenants in Scottish Homes houses have the rights and responsibilities under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, not the rights and responsibilities created by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Scottish Homes' policy is to transfer the ownership of its housing stock to other suitable landlords, usually local housing associations - and most of the stock it inherited in Scotland has already been transferred in this way. Scottish Homes operates the Housing Benefit system for its tenants through its head office in Edinburgh. Tenants who require advice or wish to apply for Housing Benefit should in the first instance contact the local office.
The Scottish Homes web archive can be found at: www.scot-homes.gov.uk/archive
