Local Housing Strategy: guidance 2026

Cabinet Secretary Introduction

Having a safe, warm and affordable home is one of the most important foundations for a good life. Our homes shape our health, wellbeing, sense of belonging and future opportunities. That is why housing sits at the heart of all four of the First Minister’s priorities: ending child poverty, growing a strong and fair economy, tackling the climate emergency, and improving public services for everyone in Scotland.

Since the Local Housing Strategy (LHS) guidance was last updated in 2019, Scotland has faced considerable change. The Covid‑19 pandemic reaffirmed the fundamental importance of good housing – not only for individuals and families, but also for the resilience and cohesion of communities across the country.

In 2021, Housing to 2040 set out our ambition for everyone in Scotland to have a home that is safe, high quality, affordable and suited to their needs, in the place they want to live. This vision has been strengthened through Scotland’s Fourth National Planning Framework, which places greater emphasis on the quality of places and homes, and through the Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan (2023), ensuring that rural and island communities can thrive with the right homes in the right locations.

In May 2024, the Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency. In response, we have intensified our national effort to meet the scale and urgency of the challenge. The Housing Emergency Action Plan, published in September 2025, sets out a strengthened and accelerated programme of action to reduce the number of households – particularly families with children – living in unsuitable or temporary accommodation and to build for Scotland’s future. This is supported by up to £4.9 billion of investment over four years, including £4.1 billion of public investment.

Central to this renewed effort is the establishment of a new national housing agency, which will lead delivery across the sector, provide clearer national coordination, and strengthen our capacity to plan, invest and drive improvements across the housing system.

This refreshed LHS guidance is being issued at a pivotal moment. As Cabinet Secretary for Housing, I want to emphasise that the LHS is not only a statutory requirement – it is a key mechanism supporting strategic leadership. It ensures that local priorities are aligned with our national mission and helps Scotland maintain a well‑functioning, balanced housing system for the long term. I encourage local authorities to use the opportunity presented by their LHS to drive forward proactive action, to anticipate and prevent future pressures, and to monitor and respond effectively to any declared housing emergency or challenge.

Local authorities play a crucial role in shaping the future of housing within their communities. The development of a LHS is a key moment to identify local priorities, understand the needs of people in the area, and set out clear, deliverable actions. Crucially, it is also an opportunity for communities to have their say. Whether someone is a tenant, homeowner, at risk of homelessness, or part of a local organisation, their lived experience is invaluable in shaping housing services and solutions that genuinely work.

This refreshed guidance supports local authorities to produce strong, evidence‑led and people‑centred Local Housing Strategies. It encourages partnership working, deep community engagement, and a place‑based approach that reflects the unique character, challenges and opportunities of every area.

At the heart of every strategy, plan and policy must be one clear goal: ensuring that everyone in Scotland has a home that enables them to live well.

This guidance applies with immediate effect, and I commend it to all local authorities.

Mairi McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Housing