Housing Statistics Reveal Trends in Affordable Housing in Scotland
Overview of Recent Developments
The Chief Statistician released the Housing Statistics for Scotland 2023-24. This report shows the housing scene today. New housing numbers fell. Meanwhile, investment in affordable homes grew in parts. The data help investors who look at houses like HMOs, as the housing market shifts.
Significant Decrease in Housing Supply
The numbers show Scotland had 16.4% fewer new houses in 2023-24. Only 20,364 new homes came in, down from 24,348 last year. New builds made up 97.9% of these homes. Rehabilitated properties and net conversions added little. The drop raises worry about future housing. By March 31, 2023, Scotland had about 2.7 million homes. Owner-occupied homes made up 60%, social rented homes 23%, and private rented or rent-free options stood at 13.2%.
Growth in Social Housing Supply
Social housing moved in a different direction. The stock grew by 6,102 homes to reach 633,030 by March 31, 2024. This total counts both local authority units and housing associations. Housing for older people grew by 1.2% to 21,085 homes. Housing for people with physical disabilities fell by 1.2%. This shows a mixed result in parts of the housing field.
Increase in Lettings and Applications
Local authorities finished 25,423 permanent lettings in 2023-24. This marks a 7.5% rise from the year before. Almost half of these lettings went to homeless households. In contrast, waiting lists grew by 1.2% to reach 177,264 households. The list may collect repeated entries from different councils.
Eviction Notices and Support Initiatives
Councils issued 16,640 eviction notices. This is a 10.2% increase from the past. Actual evictions stayed low at 561 cases, with most tied to rent arrears. This drop in evictions compares to a 32.2% fall from levels seen before the pandemic. Councils also gave financial help via the Scheme of Assistance. The grant count dropped by 5%. Funds for disabled adaptations rose to £22.2 million. The move shows a shift toward fixing serious needs.
Conclusion: The Future of Affordable Housing
The new statistics show key shifts in Scotland’s housing market. Even as new home numbers fall, affordable housing investment still grows. This trend gives room for investors, especially those who work with HMOs. Many groups keep a strong focus on affordable, good-quality homes. As the market shifts, keeping a close watch on these trends is very important for those who plan for future property investments.
