Cole-Hamilton to warn of "skyrocketing prices and poor-quality housing" at summit on Edinburgh housing

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton will on Tuesday 7th November lead a summit with local MSPs, MPs, council representatives and representatives of housing organisations such as Shelter, Crisis and Edinburgh Tenants Federation.

The summit aims to connect organisations and officials and come up with solutions for tackling shortages of housing and poor-quality housing in the city. It follows a formal declaration of a housing emergency by The City of Edinburgh Council last week and a previous housing summit hosted by Mr Cole-Hamilton in May 2023.

In September, new research by Scottish Liberal Democrats found that over 16,600 complaints about damp housing had been made to councils since 2020/21.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“It is no secret that Edinburgh has huge issues when it comes to housing.  

"A lack of availability, skyrocketing prices and poor quality housing are all playing a part.  "This summit will be an opportunity for housing organisations and tenants' representatives to give their side of the story direct to the minister in charge.

"I want to get representatives from all parties and all levels of government pulling together in the same direction.

“We need to take concrete steps to improve the situation for those we represent, which is why this summit will be squarely focused on solutions.”