The Scottish Government has set a target to deliver 50,000 affordable homes, including 35,000 for social rent, between 2016/17 and 2020/21, which are funded through its Affordable Housing Supply Programmed (AHSP). Homes for social rent provided by councils and RSLs. RSLs are mainly housing associations or housing cooperatives that meet the legislative and regulatory criteria to be registered with the Scottish Housing Regulator. Most of the affordable housing delivered under the programmed will be new-build. However, the programmed also funds  for rehabilitations.

The Scottish Housing Regulator is the independent regulator of social landlords in Scotland. Its role is to monitor, assess and report on social landlords’ performance of housing services provided to tenants, people who are homeless, gypsy and factored owners. Affordable housing makes a substantial contribution to many Scottish Government policy areas such as health and wellbeing, homelessness, economic growth, reducing child poverty and supporting sustainable rural communities. It can also improve outcomes for communities.