Midlothian Council Sets Out Next Phase of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan
Midlothian Council has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling homelessness with the publication of its updated Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP) for 2025/26.
Clear vision
Building on the Scottish Government’s Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan, the revised RRTP sets a clear vision:
“An increased number of homeless households will obtain permanent accommodation; households will be able to access support to prevent homelessness and sustain their accommodation. Households will spend a reduced amount of time in temporary accommodation, and the average time to complete its homeless duty will reduce to 52 weeks.”
Over £1 million in Scottish Government money
Since 2018, Midlothian has received over £1 million in Scottish Government funding, enabling projects that expand access to permanent housing, improve temporary accommodation, and strengthen support services.
Highlights
Key achievements in 2024/25 include:
- Reducing the average time to close a homeless case.
- Converting 171 temporary tenancies into Scottish Secure Tenancies, allowing households to stay in their communities and avoid multiple moves.
- Meeting the target to allocate 60% of council homes to those on the homeless list.
- Expanding support for people with multiple or recurring homelessness needs through Housing First and the National House Project.
- Continuing the Youth Homeless Support and Prevention Service, offering tailored support to 16–25-year-olds.
Challenges
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Homeless presentations were 725 in 2024/25, higher than pre-pandemic levels, driven by limited affordable housing, rising costs, and pressures on single-parent households.
Planning ahead
Planned actions for 2025/26 include:
- Further reducing time spent in temporary accommodation.
- Increasing the supply of permanent housing.
- Strengthening prevention work through early intervention and housing options.
- Expanding partnership approaches to address complex needs.
Focus on prevention
Councillor Stuart McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We’ve made real progress in supporting people into safe, secure homes more quickly, but we know demand remains high. Our focus now is on prevention, increasing permanent housing supply, and ensuring no one has to spend longer than necessary in temporary accommodation.”
Partnership working
Midlothian Council will continue to work with the Scottish Government and local partners to ensure homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring.