Why we are engaging with South Lanarkshire Council (South Lanarkshire)
We are engaging with South Lanarkshire about its services for people who are homeless, stock quality and tenant and resident safety.
During 2023/24, we reviewed and compared the data for all local authorities from the Scottish Government’s national homelessness statistics. We also spoke to all local authorities to gather further information and assurance about their homelessness services. To assess the risks to people who are threatened with or experiencing homelessness we will engage with all local authorities during 2024/25 with a focus on the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation.
We will engage with South Lanarkshire in particular about how people access its homelessness services.
South Lanarkshire has identified reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in some of its homes. It has told us it has a plan in place to manage any associated risks. South Lanarkshire continues to investigate the extent of RAAC in its homes.
South Lanarkshire has told us that a significant number of its tenants’ homes do not fully comply with electrical safety and fire detection requirements which came into force in early 2022 and form part of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. South Lanarkshire is currently progressing inspections to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports and to install integrated smoke and heat alarms in all of its tenants’ homes.
What South Lanarkshire must do
South Lanarkshire must:
- send us the information we require in relation to its homelessness service;
- tell us about any emerging issues preventing it from fulfilling its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
- conclude its investigation into the extent of RAAC in its homes as quickly as possible, and confirm the outcome to us;
- tell us if there are any material adverse issues which might affect its capacity to manage the risks associated with RAAC; and
- send us monthly updates on progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety and fire detection requirements.
What we will do
We will:
- review the information South Lanarkshire provides about its homelessness service;
- meet with South Lanarkshire by 31 July 2024 to discuss its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
- meet with South Lanarkshire to seek assurance if it does not provide temporary accommodation when it should, or if it breaches the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
- review any information South Lanarkshire provides about RAAC in its homes and engage as necessary;
- review South Lanarkshire’s progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety and fire detection requirements and engage as necessary; and
- update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with South Lanarkshire.
Regulatory returns
South Lanarkshire must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns:
- Annual Assurance Statement; and
- Annual Return on the Charter.
It should also notify us of any material changes to its Annual Assurance Statement, and any tenant and resident safety matter which has been reported to or is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or reports from regulatory or statutory authorities or insurance providers, relating to safety concerns.