Introduction
A core test of any housing system is how well it meets the needs of those who rely on it most. A majority of households in Scotland’s social housing sector include someone with a disability, yet recently published Consumer Scotland research found disabled social renters consistently experience less satisfactory outcomes – including the suitability of their homes and responsiveness of landlords.
In a sector intended to provide security and support, this is concerning and highlights the need for reforms of frameworks to ensure the needs of disabled social renters can be better understood and met.
Why are disabled social renters less likely to be satisfied?
Our research found disabled renters have less positive renting experiences across a range of measures.
They are more likely to feel their home doesn’t meet their needs well. This could be down to a higher likelihood of adaptation needs and a lack of suitable housing. They are also much less likely to describe the energy efficiency or the cost to heat their home as good, which is concerning as some health conditions require a warmer home or specialised medical equipment, driving up energy use.
On top of this, a disabled social renter is less likely to see issues such as repairs resolved to their satisfaction. While 86% of those with no disability were satisfied with repairs over the preceding 12 months, only 71-73% of those with disabilities were. Disabled social renters are also much less likely to find their landlord listens and acts on their views and they are less likely to think their landlord is easy to deal with, or treats them fairly or with respect.
There is also lower awareness of complaints processes amongst social renters in general compared to the private rented sector. Only 48% of social renters know what to do if their landlord fails to address an issue compared to 63% of private renters.
All these compounding factors can profoundly detract from a disabled social renter’s experience.
How to make things fairer?
There is a clear need to ensure better outcomes for disabled social renters and this year presents key opportunities to improve landlords’ understanding of their needs and how to meet them, and to strengthen mechanisms for accountability.
- The Scottish Social Housing Charter review: The Charter, which is due for review this year, sets standards and Outcomes to help social landlords deliver high quality services. While the Charter contains an Equalities Outcome, there is no emphasis on disabled renters. During its five-yearly review in 2026, the Scottish Government should work with disabled people’s organisations and other stakeholders to ensure the Equalities Outcome is reviewed to fully reflect their needs. We will work with government officials to help shape these standards.
- Review of landlord performance indicators: Landlords should annually measure their performance against the standards in the Charter through a specific set of indicators for each Outcome. These indicators currently don’t specifically measure landlord performance against the needs of disabled social renters. When the Scottish Housing Regulator reviews them to reflect the updated Equalities Outcome in the Charter, it should introduce new indicators to ensure landlord accountability. We will continue to engage with the regulator around this.
- Implementation of the new Housing Act: As the Scottish Government implements the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, a number of measures - including public awareness raising - are needed to ensure private and social renters have clarity on existing and new rights and obligations, and where to seek support. We are working with officials on updating documentation, such as new model tenancy agreements, and exploring the signposting and facilitating role Consumer Scotland can play.
- Review of Fuel Poverty Strategy: The Scottish Government is due to review its Fuel Poverty Strategy later this year. Consumer Scotland will work with officials to ensure the strategy reflects the needs of all energy consumers, including disabled renters, are addressed and how outcomes may be improved.
Consumer Scotland work on these and other recommendations to improve the experience of social renters in Scotland can be found in our publication Life in Scotland’s Social Rented Sector.
Background
We use the term ‘disabled’ to identify consumers who are living with a physical and/or mental health condition or illness that limits their ability to carry out day-to-day activities, lasting or expected to last for at least 12 months.