MORE than two-thirds of adults in Scotland believe politicians must do more to tackle housing issues, according to new polling.

Housing charity Shelter Scotland published the research as it launched its Delivering Homes, Delivering Rights plan, outlining how after next year’s Holyrood elections, the next Scottish government should set about tackling homelessness and ending the country’s housing emergency.

Shelter’s plan urges politicians to plough £8.8 billion into delivering 15,693 new social homes a year, do more to uphold and enforce housing rights, and end systemic inequality in the housing system.

The charity argues that meeting those challenges will not only curb the housing crisis, but be electorally popular.

A study carried out on its behalf by YouGov found 68 per cent thought politicians in Holyrood should be doing more on housing, while 88 per cent regarded the development of new affordable homes as important.

Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson said: “The public wants real action on housing.

“We need our politicians to step up and deliver a future where everyone in Scotland has their right to a safe, permanent, home upheld. 

“We can’t afford another lost generation on housing.”

Renewing her £4.9bn pledge, to build about 36,000 affordable homes over the next five years SNP housing secretary Mairi McAllan responded: “Tackling the housing emergency is my top priority and will be key in achieving this government’s core goals of eradicating child poverty and growing our economy.”

Pointing to the passing of the Housing (Scotland) Bill this week, she said: “It will transform the way homelessness is prevented in Scotland, help to ensure no family has to stay in a rented home with damp and mould and will keep rents affordable for tenants.”