Red emergency sos light

Is your housing unaffordable, unsuitable, inaccessible?.

You're not alone.

1.5 million of us are affected by the housing emergency in Scotland and we've had enough.

Enough of 'crappy' housing. Enough of horror stories from family and friends. Enough of struggling to pay sky-high rents and spending years waiting for a social home.

Politicians want us to accept it. But how can we accept 45 kids becoming homeless every day?

If this isn't an emergency - what is?

This is a #HousingSOS. It's time our government recognises the broken and biased housing system and its effect on us. Scotland must declare a housing emergency so this situation can end. We must make our voices heard. Share your housing horror story and then join our movement for change. ➡️

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We've had enough.

Share your housing horror story and join our movement for change.

See the map of stories 🗺️

These are your stories

Brush Quotation

The landlord is neglecting to get the outdated boiler replaced despite having had three abatement orders served. I have faced being put into temporary housing because of this. After 24 years of him …

😠Catherine

Catherine's story

The landlord is neglecting to get the outdated boiler replaced despite having had three abatement orders served. I have faced being put into temporary housing because of this. After 24 years of him receiving rent money I'm now being informed the flat is to be sold anyway and I now face homelessness.This is having an ongoing bad impact on my mental and physical health.There has never been a decent standard of heating and no running hot tap water either in all the time of my tenancy either.

Brush Quotation

My council house is damp I've had to throw our furniture can't use my bedroom due to damp. Sleep in livingroom not good when you have Crohns and spinal problems

😡Susan

Susan 's story

My council house is damp I've had to throw our furniture can't use my bedroom due to damp. Sleep in livingroom not good when you have Crohns and spinal problems

Brush Quotation

I’m a single mother of two autistic kids. My landlord did not have an EICR for the electricity for years so my plugs kept melting and no main attached smoke detectors. (Which were fitted after my com…

🙂Gayle

Gayle 's story

I’m a single mother of two autistic kids. My landlord did not have an EICR for the electricity for years so my plugs kept melting and no main attached smoke detectors. (Which were fitted after my complaint) It’s also illegal to have no EICR or a EPC. My heating never worked in my bedroom and the bathroom for the first eight years. The house is poorly insulted so it’s very cold and the double glazing is out of date. I had to go to a tribunal to get a repair order which has still not been resolved. There’s been further problems with the boiler needing repaired as a result of blocked pipes. They gave me a notice to quit the property in August after I made complaints. My son has had major surgery for a medical condition and is awaiting separate spinal surgery for his scoliosis and we are afraid that we will be in temporary accommodation when he’s recovering and doesn’t have a home to go back to. I can’t move out because there’s nothing in my catchment area and everything is over what I can afford. I also get discrimination for being on benefits.

Brush Quotation

I moved from Berwick upon tweed to Edinburgh in 2016 when I had to leave abusive marriage. I went on the council house waiting list then. I am still waiting. I need 3 bedrooms. I currently pay 1030 …

😢B

B's story

I moved from Berwick upon tweed to Edinburgh in 2016 when I had to leave abusive marriage. I went on the council house waiting list then. I am still waiting. I need 3 bedrooms. I currently pay 1030 a month and work in the NHS as a full time Secretary. I get some universal credit but finances are very difficult

Brush Quotation

Iv been stuck in 1 room for 3 months bid every week after split with partner I'm desperate bid every week but getting nowhere iv never had my own home and supposed to be priority I'm depressed was f…

😢D

D's story

Iv been stuck in 1 room for 3 months bid every week after split with partner I'm desperate bid every week but getting nowhere iv never had my own home and supposed to be priority I'm depressed was fine till all this some days feel suicidal it's so demeaning having to share toilet bathroom with all other rooms any longer and I'm worried I will break

Brush Quotation

Renfrewshire council have started upgrades ie solar panel new windows and doors, these projects have been outsourced to cheap and inadequate unprofessional companies who's work and work ethics are di…

🙂Allan

Allan's story

Renfrewshire council have started upgrades ie solar panel new windows and doors, these projects have been outsourced to cheap and inadequate unprofessional companies who's work and work ethics are dire.

Brush Quotation

We owned our own house but had to sell it due to bullying and harassment and we didn't get any help then, stayed with a member of family until we had a fall out, we were too scared to go back to our…

😡Heather

Heather 's story

We owned our own house but had to sell it due to bullying and harassment and we didn't get any help then, stayed with a member of family until we had a fall out, we were too scared to go back to our own house, so we had to private let and pay a mortgage. We eventually sold our house and could not get another mortgage and had to stay where we were, now myself and my family have been given the heads up that in January my landlord will be giving us a notice to quit. My youngest son is in his last year at school and got exams in May and we are living with the fear "where do we go" the rent out there is unaffordable or there is nothing in the area because landlords are selling. I have applied for a few housing association but nothing can be done until we get the notice to quit. We don't have the upfront rent or deposit so I'm having to sell what I can to come up with the money. My landlord has said she is selling the house but I think she just wants us out so she can bump up the rent. Something needs to be done if there is a eviction ban landlords should not be aloud to issue the notice to quit letter I don't get it.

Brush Quotation

I am a private tenant, 68, working pensioner living with husband and a disabled adult child. I pay half my income on rent. My house has wet floors under the floor covers, unusable kitchen due to the…

😡Kate

Kate's story

I am a private tenant, 68, working pensioner living with husband and a disabled adult child. I pay half my income on rent. My house has wet floors under the floor covers, unusable kitchen due to the wet floors which smell and a community of slugs that come through every night. The slugs have been found on the bench top, in the sink, in the floor cupboards and the drawers, making these areas unusable. The floors freeze when it is zero or below. My gas kitchen cooker, which was new when we moved in has recently been tagged as unsafe due to its installation position as it does not have the necessary clearance. There is a lot of rising mould from the floors, and it is a constant battle to wash it away. Heating this place is a nightmare cost. We are sinking under the cost of living here but are very low on the list for council housing and despite health issues we are not eligible to be moved to a higher category.

Brush Quotation

Been in private rented accommodation for 8 years, landlord has increased rent again. Its unaffordable. Been on council waiting list for an offer of a council home for 9 years!! Still waiting. I ca…

😠Alison

Alison's story

Been in private rented accommodation for 8 years, landlord has increased rent again. Its unaffordable. Been on council waiting list for an offer of a council home for 9 years!! Still waiting. I can't afford private rent anymore, what am I supposed to do? I've been told by council that I'm not priority for housing.

Brush Quotation

Fleeing domestic violence and ongoing post separation abuse to myself and our children and being left homeless after being forced to leave army accommodation yet my abuser was housed immediately and …

💔Francesca

Francesca 's story

Fleeing domestic violence and ongoing post separation abuse to myself and our children and being left homeless after being forced to leave army accommodation yet my abuser was housed immediately and given support by the forces . 3/5 of my children are registered disabled and we are told we have to wait up to 7 years to be homed despite exceptional need and points . We are desperate . My son will not be safe to us or himself in hostels or hotels . He has high personal care needs and medications , dietary needs and needs cooked food daily . I don’t sleep , I am stressed every time it’s bidding day knowing they won’t give us a house . I need to rehome my beloved support pets that assist my son . I don’t know how to tell my children all this is happening as they won’t understand why they don’t have a bedroom or sensory space they use daily. I have nothing and no-one anymore due to alienation and constant abuse and now I can’t provide a home for my children . I hate my life.

Brush Quotation

My family and I have been homeless twice in the past 12 years. I am unable to work due to disability and my partner is my carer. I didn't realise how difficult it was to find a landlord that will acc…

🙂SuperCrazyMum7

SuperCrazyMum7's story

My family and I have been homeless twice in the past 12 years. I am unable to work due to disability and my partner is my carer. I didn't realise how difficult it was to find a landlord that will accept someone that claims benefits! At our previous property we had to have a guarantor, and we were in our late 30's! It's absolutely ridiculous! Luckily we found a great landlord and have been settled for the past 7 years. I realise just how lucky we are now from reading some of the horror stories, it makes me very grateful.

Brush Quotation

Cant even get a viewing! All viewing slots on rentals seem to be gone within a few hours. Must be hundreds of us in Edinburgh all going for the same places :(

💔Simon

Simon's story

Cant even get a viewing! All viewing slots on rentals seem to be gone within a few hours. Must be hundreds of us in Edinburgh all going for the same places :(

Brush Quotation

In 2009 I was made homeless when my landlord decided to put up his rent by 10%. We could no longer afford it he gave notice to quit. The housing 'officers' at homeless, chucked us in a 2 bed flat. We…

😢Benjamin

Benjamin 's story

In 2009 I was made homeless when my landlord decided to put up his rent by 10%. We could no longer afford it he gave notice to quit. The housing 'officers' at homeless, chucked us in a 2 bed flat. We were so lucky. However things were going downhill fast. Damp on the wall, a -15 winter with storage heaters. We were so cold and eating up my disability benefits fast. I made sure the kids ate. Also in a second floor flat, my longterm health my gp said no more that 1 floor. They put me in 2 floor. It was hard. My son and daughter shared a bedroom I had a then boyfriend, I am a Transman and gay, I had my GRC and new birth certificate. However. They refused to let my boyfriend stay over at all, as people of opposite sex were not allowed to say. When I showed them my now LEGAL male birth certificate. They said, "that is not enough evidence" when told it was totally legal, they told me I was on my own last warning. The mould had started my sons asthma, he had fluid our his heart and had to be 6 weeks off school my chest started to hurt. We finally got a house due to both mine and my sons illness (funny how they can find you something, when they know your going to the MSP and papers.) They said they would take the last meter reading and send it onto Scottish power when I moved, I trusted my 'officer'. A month later Scottish power sent a letter saying I owed them around £250. I asked why, they told me I left without sending in a meter teader I had accumilated a debt. I told them homeless office said they were doing it. The very apologetic person told me that they had not. Thanks to the power company I manage to get a deal of £5 per month off of my key meter. I ended up a week after moving in getting phnumonia. My parents travelled the who 350 miles to help with my kids. There was by that time just me. Their other 'parent' who was abusive would not come either. So in my opinion, you might as well call the homeless department prison officers, they have the right to throw you out if you even trip up once. They have absolutely NO idea of LGBQ+ rights. And they simply do not care. From the moment you walk through those homeless department doors, you are stepping into a kind of probation service, with WHY,WHERE, HOW, WHAT'S you feel not human any more, just another bloody problem or just another Queer we have to deak with. I have had many homeless people one or teo friends but all in eitber tiny flats, B&Bs and hotels, with a bad reputation for illegal drugs etc. The dapartment needs a new face and needs it no

Brush Quotation

My rent is 1100. Rent only. Nothing else is included in that. This hangs over my head every month like a demon. I don't know what to do. I can't afford rent plus Xmas next month. How this is justifie…

🙂Beckie

Beckie's story

My rent is 1100. Rent only. Nothing else is included in that. This hangs over my head every month like a demon. I don't know what to do. I can't afford rent plus Xmas next month. How this is justified I don't know. Its not rocket science. Paying that much in rent it's quite obvious no one is going to afford to save a deposit. Paying that much in rent should totally be accepted as a mortgage.

Brush Quotation

A single parent of 1 teen after leaving a domestic violent relationship , 10 years ago. Private landlord wanted to sell up all his properties as many tenants in lockdowns could not afford to pay th…

😡Ally

Ally's story

A single parent of 1 teen after leaving a domestic violent relationship , 10 years ago. Private landlord wanted to sell up all his properties as many tenants in lockdowns could not afford to pay their rents although I did,every month without fail. Rather than pay out for legal costs to evict us from the flat, landlord bullied us out by inventing stories of me being an anti social neighbour.He broke all legal rules, by turning up at the door unannounced and threatening to change the locks when I left the flat to buy groceries. With help from Shelter Scotland , I discovered, the gas boiler had not been serviced in the 3 years we lived there . I had to take a loan out for a deposit for another private rental in 2nd lockdown. There wasn't much choice of properties available to rent. House is damp, and cold. The rent is above the local housing allowance limit and council refuse to help me with a discretionary housing payment due to lack of funds available. We are trapped here and in poverty. Yet not priority for an affordable home as not actually received notification to leave from landlord.

Brush Quotation

As a single mother of 5, I struggled to find a home that would meet my family needs that I could afford. When I found one, it was next a pub in an area well known for anti -social behaviour.  We ofte…

😢TMM

TMM's story

As a single mother of 5, I struggled to find a home that would meet my family needs that I could afford. When I found one, it was next a pub in an area well known for anti -social behaviour.  We often got eggs thrown at our windows and hate graffiti on our door. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when one of children was robbed of their phone and Ipod on the way from school. After reporting the case to the police, we were subjected to more hate crime, and I had no choice but to ask my older daughters to move out so that I could find a smaller flat for me and my three youngest children. It broke my heart to let my daughters go before they were ready. The Scottish Government should build more social homes that meet the needs of larger families with children. Home should not just be a roof over your head;  feeling safe is equally important.

Brush Quotation

We lived in a flat where the mice problem was so bad they were eating the food in the cupboards. We’d see them running about the floor even in the day. The letting agent said there was nothing they c…

🐁Sarah

Sarah's story

We lived in a flat where the mice problem was so bad they were eating the food in the cupboards. We’d see them running about the floor even in the day. The letting agent said there was nothing they could do and to keep food stored away. We ended up having to put everything in the fridge.

Brush Quotation

I lived in a top-floor student flat. One of the walls in the bedroom was soaking wet due to a leak in the roof and never got fixed. The wall was so damp it was wet to the touch and it couldn’t be wal…

🏚Sam

Sam's story

I lived in a top-floor student flat. One of the walls in the bedroom was soaking wet due to a leak in the roof and never got fixed. The wall was so damp it was wet to the touch and it couldn’t be wallpapered. The damp made the room so cold. I lived with it for nearly a year.

Brush Quotation

Active leak in our tenement that took almost three years to stop. Landlord next door wouldn't get it fixed. Had to get council involved to threaten legal action on landlord. Now finally no active lea…

😢Alison

Alison's story

Active leak in our tenement that took almost three years to stop. Landlord next door wouldn't get it fixed. Had to get council involved to threaten legal action on landlord. Now finally no active leak into shared area, but we're left with a massive hole in close that now all residents have to pay for. Again, landlord won't pay so we can't proceed. It's been a total nightmare.

Brush Quotation

Mortgage has doubled and bank wont let me remortgage, have reduced working hours due to childcare being too expensive so not got enough earnings to qualify to remortgage affordability with other bank…

😠Anonymous

Anonymous's story

Mortgage has doubled and bank wont let me remortgage, have reduced working hours due to childcare being too expensive so not got enough earnings to qualify to remortgage affordability with other banks. So stuck in high mortgage. Banks don’t care and are rolling in cash. System is completely broken,

Brush Quotation

My housing officer told me it’s a 100 year wait for the size house I need.

🚨CK

CK's story

My housing officer told me it’s a 100 year wait for the size house I need.

Brush Quotation

Everything went fine until the pandemic hit. After that my landlord decided that the flat was worth a lot more. My rent went up and I couldn't afford to eat. That was that, I was out.

😡Connie

Connie's story

Everything went fine until the pandemic hit. After that my landlord decided that the flat was worth a lot more. My rent went up and I couldn't afford to eat. That was that, I was out.

Brush Quotation

I live in a 2 bed, 1st floor flat. My 3 year old who is autistic, is really tall for his age and has good fine motor skills. However he lacks safety awareness. He can climb up to windows and open the…

😢Lisa

Lisa's story

I live in a 2 bed, 1st floor flat. My 3 year old who is autistic, is really tall for his age and has good fine motor skills. However he lacks safety awareness. He can climb up to windows and open them. My stair has no secure stair door, no gate which leads out to busy roads. Our back garden is open planned, there is also a 1m verge that he attempts to jump off from. I'm having constant complaints from neighbours below about noise. We cannot afford private rent - what we want is somewhere which has safe garden space as little one lives for the outdoors. I also have had horrendous issues with mice and my next door neighbour has made our lives hell. Neither my husband and I enjoy living where we live. We hate it and it's awful.

Brush Quotation

The damp in our kitchen was so bad that a kitchen cupboard fell off the wall and our ceiling caved in. The landlord did nothing to fix it, so we attempted to cover the hole in the ceiling with tarpau…

😂Lara

Lara's story

The damp in our kitchen was so bad that a kitchen cupboard fell off the wall and our ceiling caved in. The landlord did nothing to fix it, so we attempted to cover the hole in the ceiling with tarpaulin and duct tape - for a year and a half it leaked every time it rained.

Brush Quotation

I've a great job that I love. I've also got zero chance of being able to afford to buy a home. Housing is broken!! Totally depressing :(

😢Jen

Jen's story

I've a great job that I love. I've also got zero chance of being able to afford to buy a home. Housing is broken!! Totally depressing :(

Brush Quotation

I have a good job and can afford a mortgage - I just cant afford the deposit, so I have to rent. Even if I could get the deposit together - house prices seem to be going through the roof in my area!

💔Lauren

Lauren's story

I have a good job and can afford a mortgage - I just cant afford the deposit, so I have to rent. Even if I could get the deposit together - house prices seem to be going through the roof in my area!

Brush Quotation

Rents too high, budget too low :(

👀John

John's story

Rents too high, budget too low :(

Brush Quotation

I need an accessible home for a health condition and while my landlord makes all the right noises, she is not interested in making those changes to her property - and why should she really? Zero hom…

😢Charlie

Charlie's story

I need an accessible home for a health condition and while my landlord makes all the right noises, she is not interested in making those changes to her property - and why should she really? Zero homes available through the council so I just live half a life because of it.

Brush Quotation

I work at Ninewells and the price of renting has got ridiculous. Prices seem to have gone through the roof - so here I am I my 30s in a bloody flatshare like I was when I was a student. There is no…

🏠LL

LL's story

I work at Ninewells and the price of renting has got ridiculous. Prices seem to have gone through the roof - so here I am I my 30s in a bloody flatshare like I was when I was a student. There is no lower cost option for keyworkers!

Brush Quotation

I had an absolute nightmare finding somewhere to live last summer, I was homeless for the first month of university in September.

😠Eli

Eli's story

I had an absolute nightmare finding somewhere to live last summer, I was homeless for the first month of university in September.

Brush Quotation

Lived in my rented property for years. Landlord was OK, but started to tell us that he needed to put the rent up as his costs were going up. We couldn’t afford what he wanted but he wanted us to st…

🚨Mandi

Mandi's story

Lived in my rented property for years. Landlord was OK, but started to tell us that he needed to put the rent up as his costs were going up. We couldn’t afford what he wanted but he wanted us to stay so we compromised. Eventually during the rent rise and eviction freeze he said he couldnt cover his costs and he would have to sell :(. We found that every property in Edinburgh was maxxed out on viewings about 10 mins after it was listed so eventually we had to take something smaller, further from the city and in a neighbourhood we didn't want to live in - and have to pay £250 extra a month for the privilege :( Its caused many many issues for my disabled son - its the only home he's ever known.

Brush Quotation

I'm a carer - I need a more affordable option for us than renting as I cant work as much as before. We get help with our rent but its no life. GCC tells me there is none.

🚨Kerry

Kerry's story

I'm a carer - I need a more affordable option for us than renting as I cant work as much as before. We get help with our rent but its no life. GCC tells me there is none.

Brush Quotation

If you want to view a decent flat in Glasgow, you better be prepared to go immediately - and be viewing with at least 5 other desperate renters like you. Ive heard of people being asked how many mon…

🚨Sarah

Sarah's story

If you want to view a decent flat in Glasgow, you better be prepared to go immediately - and be viewing with at least 5 other desperate renters like you. Ive heard of people being asked how many months rent they could pay up front - its like the bloody hunger games!

Brush Quotation

The landlord tried to deduct from our deposit for a fingerprint on the toilet roll holder!

🚨Jess

Jess's story

The landlord tried to deduct from our deposit for a fingerprint on the toilet roll holder!

Brush Quotation

I was made homeless through an illegal eviction and the council found me intentionally homeless as I’d left the property without paperwork being served by the landlord. The locks had been changed by …

😡Andy

Andy's story

I was made homeless through an illegal eviction and the council found me intentionally homeless as I’d left the property without paperwork being served by the landlord. The locks had been changed by the time I attempted to re-enter the flat. I spent months between hostels with curfews and rough sleeping  because I would break curfew due to my working hours. It was 0 hour and was job and done meaning I would start my shift then work until the work was completed, often meaning 14-15 hour shifts. I loved that job as it was an escape from my situation. I eventually gave up on fighting the council about my housing and they never once told me my rights or provided alternative sources of help. I was stuck. I never contacted anyone for help because, after all, I thought I was able to fight my own battles. I ended up renting a room from a guy who wouldn’t give me a tenancy agreement and stated that I couldn’t tell the DWP or anyone other service I was staying there but it was a roof. I lived in this single room, passing money under the door of the landlord who lived in the next room for almost 4 years. It was squalid with a shared bathroom that stank of urine and the floor was warped with damp. Another guy who stayed there was a raging alcoholic who used to get violent and pull radiators off the walls and throw them about when he was drunk. This became normal to me. I used to lock myself in the single room and use the ground floor window to get in and out when I was going to work so I didn’t have to pass him. I refused to have visitors because I was so embarrassed about the place and I became so detached from my family and friends because of this, and the impact it had on my mental health, that I felt like they withdrew from me. I was so angry and hurt by this at the time but I realised much later, after I left this place, that it was me withdrawing from them. 8 years on, I’m still mending some of those fences with family and friends but the memory of that situation will live with me forever. I can still smell the place now when thinking about it.

Brush Quotation

Been in my temp accommodation so long now, that my kids have grown up here, their lives are here - their friends, school, everything. But this isnt ours, we cant settle - and when we do finally find…

😞Claire

Claire's story

Been in my temp accommodation so long now, that my kids have grown up here, their lives are here - their friends, school, everything. But this isnt ours, we cant settle - and when we do finally find somewhere, we will have to start again from scratch.

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