Housing options (PREVENT1) statistics in Scotland: 2021 to 2022

Prevention activity

Most prevention activity is general housing advice or informing clients of their rights under homelessness legislation

Chart 4: Prevention activity carried out, 2021/22

Mediation/outreach work’, ‘tenancy/social care support/adaptations to property’ and ‘mortgage/home ownership advice’ activity was carried out by less than half of local authorities.

The vast majority of prevention activity is undertaken by the local authority, particularly in the housing department

Chart 5: Organisation carrying out prevention activity, 2021/22. [LA refers to local authority]

Type of prevention activity

Local authorities may undertake several activities related to Housing Options approaches.  These are grouped in to three types, based on ‘workload’, where type I is considered the least and type III is the most.

• Type I – Active Information, Sign-posting and Explanation
• Type II – Casework
• Type III – Advocacy, Representation and Mediation at Tribunal or Court Action Level

There were 39,802 households with associated activities in 2021/22.  Of these, 43% involved providing active information, sign-posting or explanation only and 57% involved casework (note: these may also have included type I activities).

Very few local authorities report advocacy work, with Angus, East Lothian and West Dunbartonshire being highest with 3%, 1% and 1%, respectively.