Glasgow overcrowding "getting worse" as homeless households take priority, council leader admits

Overcrowding in Glasgow's social housing is getting worse because the homelessness crisis means homes are going to people with nowhere to live, a council meeting has heard.

Councillors were told of a mother sleeping in her living room while her two teenagers share the only bedroom in their social rented home – an example of what one councillor called a "massive problem".

"I can't be the only councillor"

Councillor Robert Mooney, who represents the Canal ward, told the city administration committee he had visited a woman whose son and daughter share the only bedroom in their Wheatley housing flat.

Asking whether overcrowding was getting worse, he said he could not be the only councillor in the room seeing a significant number of cases like it.

The Labour councillor described it as a "massive problem", and said the only option open to the mother was to swap her home with someone else.

"Yes, it is getting worse"

In response, council leader Ricky Bell said: "Yes, it is getting worse. We have a housing crisis that is very well known. There are not enough houses."

He said the council is "trying our absolute best to build more houses as quickly as we can", but needs additional funding from the Scottish Government.

Homeless households come first

Deputy leader and housing convener Ruairi Kelly explained that applications for housing involve a needs-based assessment.

He said the number of people in temporary accommodation and experiencing homelessness meant that those living in overcrowded homes do not get the same priority.

"Unfortunately those who are in an overcrowded home fall lower down the list than those in no home at all in B&Bs or temporary accommodation," he said.

A city under pressure

Glasgow declared a housing emergency in 2023, and thousands of households – including many families with children – are living in temporary accommodation across the city. Demand for larger family homes far outstrips supply.

This week, plans were approved for 33 new family homes in Possilpark, including nine three-bedroom and 12 four-bedroom houses – the kind of larger homes councillors say are badly needed.

Tenants living in overcrowded homes can speak to their landlord or the council's housing options service about transfers, mutual exchanges and other help.