Liz Nicholson: Executive will have to meet shortfall

However, according to the housing charity Shelter and Scotland's councils, there are not enough homes or resources to significantly improve on housing problems.

Liz Nicholson of housing charity Shelter said: "Scotland now has the most progressive housing legislation in the whole of the UK, but we need to have the resources there to implement the legislation.

"What our report is showing is a shortfall in accommodation for people and temporary housing for people and to meet that shortfall is going to cost the executive �41m."

With around 12,000 more households across Scotland set to be entitled to a temporary home under this Bill, most of the country's local authorities say they will struggle.

Cathy King of Edinburgh City Council said accommodation has been stretched to the limit.

Cathy King: Accommodation is scarce

She said: "There is an absolute shortage of accommodation, particularly in Edinburgh. We estimate that we are short of 10,000 homes over the next 10 years.

"We are working hard to close that gap, but it is still quite a shortfall in accommodation."

Right to a home

Deputy social justice minister Margaret Curran said advances contained in the Bill "would not have happened had it not been for the Scottish Parliament".

She said: "This is the most significant piece of Scottish housing legislation in a generation, which will provide a better deal for tenants and a framework for delivering substantial improvements to the quality of Scotland's housing."

Under the legislation people will have the right to a home and it will not be enough for councils just to hand out a list of Bed and Breakfasts, they will have to find them a temporary home.

The executive has pledged �27million to meet the cost of the changes and will take soundings by the end of the year on whether more finance is required.