The Scottish Government’s vision is that all people in Scotland live in high quality sustainable homes that they can afford and that meet their needs. A key aspect of housing need (and demand) is people’s aspirations. Housing aspirations in policy debates are most often associated with homeownership, largely because survey data has consistently shown that the majority of people in Scotland, when asked, say they would prefer to own their own home. Further exploration, however, identifies aspirations that are not related to tenure and that size, type of house and location are all relevant.
The researchers from the University of St Andrews & University of Sheffield spoke to 80 people from diverse backgrounds and geographical areas and explored the tenures and types of homes people need and demand and further why they have these preferences and what factors influence them. The work will inform debates and policy decisions on the need and demand for housing in Scotland.
Access the report here: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/09/9153
Supporting Scotland's Towns