Local Housing Strategy guidance 2026: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

Age

The EQIA identified positive impacts of the LHS guidance on people based on age. The LHS guidance includes a particular focus on independent living for older people requiring local authorities to include information in a LHS around what their priorities are in relation to housing adaptations, specialist housing provision including plans to deliver accessible homes including a wheelchair accessible housing target.

The LHS guidance includes a focus on rural housing and community-led housing. Local authorities are required to include information in their LHS on the distinctive challenges to housing and housing related services in these areas and how they will overcome these challenges working collaboratively with partners. The delivery of more affordable homes in rural and island areas will support younger people to remain in their communities.

Disability

The EQIA identified positive and negative impacts of the LHS guidance on people based on disability. According to the 2018 Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report on housing issues affecting disabled people, Scotland’s disabled population faces considerable housing challenges. The report states that only approximately 1% of housing is accessible for wheelchair users; 61,000 people need adaptations to their home; and almost 10,000 disabled people are on housing waiting lists. The LHS guidance includes a strong focus on specialist provision housing and requires local authorities to include a summary of current levels of specialist provision housing, gaps in provision and future need for provision together with plans for addressing this. It also requires local authorities to include information on what target is in place for delivering more wheelchair accessible homes together with what progress has been achieved in relation to delivery of the target.

Sex

The EQIA identified that there will be minimal impact on individuals based on sex. The LHS guidance highlights that a Housing Need and Demand Assessment is required to be undertaken as part of the Local Housing Strategy process. Local authorities can augment Housing Need and Demand Assessments with robust additional data and research where this exists. This will provide local authorities with local information on demographics for each area.

The EQIA identified that men were much more likely to experience rough sleeping. Women, however, are much more likely to be ‘hidden homeless’ and face higher rates of homelessness due to domestic violence. The LHS guidance includes a strong focus on homelessness with local authorities expected to clearly set out in their LHSs what action they are taking to address homelessness in their area. Local authorities are encouraged to consider Equally Safe - Scotland’s Strategy for Preventing and Eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls which was refreshed in 2023 & the Equally Safe Delivery Plan and set out in their LHS how housing and housing related services will drive continuous improvement in ensuring that women and girls at risk of and experiencing violence and abuse receive joined up, effective mainstream and specialist service support.

Any impact based on sex will be positive, arising from provision of affordable housing and housing related services to meet the needs of people living in each local authority area across Scotland.

Gender reassignment

Although the Scottish Government does not as yet capture data on gender reassignment and homelessness, Stonewall has reported that one in four trans people in the UK have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, and the Scottish Transgender Alliance Survey (2012) found that 19% of respondents had been homeless at some point in their lives, with 11% having been homeless more than once. These statistics evidence that trans status may have a disproportionate effect on likelihood of being homeless. The LHS guidance has a strong focus on specialist provision housing and requires local authorities to include a summary of current levels of specialist provision housing, including for transgender people, gaps in provision and future need for provision together with plans for addressing this.

Sexual orientation

The EQIA identified positive and negative impacts in relation Research from Stonewall that has highlighted that almost one in five LGBT people (18%) surveyed reported experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives.

Homelessness prevention duties will not discriminate against any one group but will also not eliminate unlawful discrimination related to sexual orientation. The LHS guidance includes a strong focus on homelessness with local authorities required to set out their approach for the prevention and alleviation of homelessness local authority’s assessment of homelessness in its area. This should include an overall homelessness figure, broken down by age, gender, location, household composition.

The LHS guidance has a strong focus on specialist provision housing and requires local authorities to include a summary of current levels of specialist provision housing, including for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, gaps in provision and future need for provision together with plans for addressing this.

Race

The EQIA identified positive and negative impacts on individuals based on race. The provision of affordable housing is likely to have a positive effect on people who are in housing need. Ethnic minorities are more likely to rent privately or be owner/occupiers, often in poorer quality housing stock. People from minority ethnic groups are, in general, more likely to be living in relative poverty than other groups. Certain ethnic minorities have certain housing needs, often living inter-generationally. Equalities is central to the development of a LHS and the LHS guidance includes a strong focus on equalities requiring local authorities to prepare a EQIA. The LHS guidance requires local authorities to demonstrate that consideration has been given to the specialist provision requirements for those of all ages, in all types of household, across all tenures, including the needs of ethnic minorities, including migrants, asylum seekers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and refugees. The LHS guidance requires local authorities to include information in a LHS around what mechanism(s) is in place to monitor below tolerable standard levels and what powers and actions the local authority uses to address below tolerable standard properties. Local authorities should include information in their LHS on how their Scheme of Assistance will be used to address substandard private housing, implementing the Below Tolerable Standard strategy as appropriate. The LHS guidance requires local authorities to engage with ethnic minority communities to understand their housing needs including those that are additional to those covered by mainstream housing.

Gypsy/Traveller communities are at high risk of poverty, with census data highlighting that Gypsy/Traveller households are more likely to have a characteristic that is associated with poverty. The LHS guidance requires local authorities to demonstrate that consideration has been given to the specialist provision requirements for those of all ages, in all types of household, across all tenures, including the needs of gypsy/Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. The LHS guidance makes local authorities aware of Scottish Government plans to commission work on an Accommodation Needs Toolkit during 2025. This will have a practical focus, aimed at improving the way that Housing Need and Demand Assessments, LHS and Local Development Plans reflect the needs of Gypsy/Travellers.

Religion or belief

The EQIA identified that there will be minimal impact on individuals based on religion or belief. Any impact will be positive, arising from provision of affordable housing and housing related services. The LHS guidance requires local authorities to evidence that engagement has taken place to understand and consider any additional needs of ethnic minorities, that the local authority has considered the needs of ethnic minority families for homes suitable for larger/extended family groups together with consideration of any other specific cultural needs.