Housing statistics 2017: key trends summary

Local Authority Vacant Stock

At 31st March 2017 local authorities reported 6,164 units of vacant stock, a slight decrease of 17 units on the 6,181 units in the previous year.

Of this, 25% of units were awaiting demolition, 11% were in a low demand area, 18% were part of a modernisation programme, 8% were used as temporary accommodation for the homeless, and 38% were normal letting stock.

Local authority dwellings can be vacant for a variety of reasons, such as being part of a planned disposal or modernisation/repair programme, or being in low demand areas. At 31 ^st March 2017 local authorities reported 6,164 units of vacant stock, slightly less than the 6,181 in the previous year. This continues the longer term reduction in the number of vacant dwellings, mainly due to falling numbers of stock being set aside to be demolished.

Of the 6,164 units, 25% were awaiting demolition or sale, 11% were in a low demand area, 18% were part of a modernisation programme, and a further 8% were used as temporary accommodation for the homeless. 38% of vacant stock was normal letting stock or other vacant stock, which represents 1% of all local authority normal letting stock.

Chart 11 below illustrates that the length of time that properties have been vacant is closely related to the reason for the vacancy. Normal letting stock, or temporary homeless accommodation tends to be empty for less time than other types of vacant stock. For example, at March 2017 just over a third (35%) of vacant normal letting stock had been vacant for less than 2 weeks, and 3% had been vacant for over two years. This compares to half of vacant stock awaiting demolition which was vacant for over 2 years, and just 5% vacant for less than two weeks.

Chart 11: Vacant local authority stock by length of time vacant and reason for vacancy, March 2017

Vacant stock in each local authority area (except those which have transferred their social housing stock) is shown in Chart 12 below. This shows vacant stock, by reason for vacancy, as a proportion of all local authority housing stock.

Chart 12: Vacant local authority stock as a proportion of all local authority stock, March 2017

Link to tables on public authority vacant stock: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/StockManagement

National Records for Scotland ( NRS) produce statistics on occupied and vacant dwellings for all sectors each year at local authority and data zone level: http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/housholds/household-estimates