Housing Options (PREVENT1) statistics in Scotland, 2023-24

An annual update on Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics covering 2023-24 has been released today.

Findings for that period show:

• There were 44,952 Housing Options approaches (from 42,161 unique households). This is an increase of 5% compared to 2022-23.
• The number of open Housing Options cases has been increasing over time, although the latest figure of 29,900 as at 31 March 2024 is 1% lower compared to 2023 (30,075).
• General housing options advice (20% of all approaches), asked to leave (17% of all approaches) and risk of losing accommodation (11% of all approaches) are the most common reasons for approach.
• Over a fifth (21%) of approaches are from parental / family home or relatives; 18% are from a private rented tenancy.
• The most common prevention activity is general housing advice (43%), informing clients of their rights under homelessness legislation (28%) and rent, repairs, referrals and negotiations with landlords (12%).
• Just under half of Housing Options approaches resulted in a homelessness application (49%). This is less than 52% in 2022-23 and 57% in 2021-22. However, this is a numerical increase in the last year from 21,390 to 22,105 (3%).
• Across Scotland it took an average of 180 days to close a Housing Options cases (that did not result in a homelessness application). This has increased from 137 days in 2022-23.

Background

The full statistical publication is available on our website.

The Housing Options (PREVENT1) 2023-24 publication presents information on Housing Options Services in Scotland from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The statistics are based on administrative data collected by local authorities in the course of providing Housing Options services that are available when households seek assistance for housing-related issues.

The bulletin includes information on the number of approaches made, details on the reasons for the approaches made, the activities undertaken, and the outcomes achieved.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland is on the Scottish Government website.