Our Manifesto
The STO represents tenants of all tenures across Scotland.
It is run by and for tenants.
It negotiates with government, local authorities, housing associations, private landlords and other organisations and individuals on behalf of tenants, while remaining independent.
The STO fights for:-
- Public investment in public owned housing. The STO will continue to campaign against stock transfer of any variety and scale, and for debt-writeoff and direct investment in improving existing council houses and building new ones. This includes the right for tenants to transfer back to council ownership.
- An end to the removal of homes from the social rented sector through right-to-buy.
- Replacement of schemes that subsidise home ownership (and push up house prices) with investment in public sector housing.
- Efficient and good quality services for tenants of all tenures.
- Housing association rents and service charges to be reduced to and held at affordable levels.
- Controlled private rents and security of tenure, together with polices that reduce dependence on the private rented sector in favour of public housing.
- An end to demolitions that are not supported by tenants and are not part of a programme to provide better housing for the tenants being displaced. The STO’s opposition to stock transfer includes opposition to effective transfer through the demolition of council stock and its replacement with other tenures.
- Affordable rents that are calculated so as to leave those on low incomes with enough money to afford a decent quality of life.
- Proactive planning policies that ensure that social housing is available in good central positions and is not driven to perimeter estates.
- Genuine tenant involvement in running their homes through independent tenant and community organisations.
