Housing statistics quarterly update: September 2017

Key Points

New Build Housing - All Sectors

There were 4,279 new build homes completed between January and March 2017; a 3% increase (125 homes) on the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 17,078, up 1% (251 homes) compared to the 16,827 completed in the previous year, the fourth consecutive annual increase and the highest annual number of completions since 2009-10.

There were 5,781 new build homes started between January and March 2017; 20% more than the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 18,391 which is up by 4% (626 homes) compared to the 17,765 homes started in the previous year, the fourth consecutive annual increase and the highest annual number of starts since 2008-09.

New Build Housing - Private-led Housing

Between January and March 2017, 3,212 private sector led homes were completed; 5% more (156 homes) than the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 13,187, which is 1% (182 homes) less than the 13,369 completions in the previous year.

There were 2,575 private sector led starts between January and March 2017, down 8% on the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year ending March 2017 to 12,051, which is 9% (1,176 homes) less than the 13,227 starts in the previous year.

New Build Housing - Social Sector Housing (Housing Association and Local Authority combined)

There were 1,067 social housing completions between January and March 2017; 3% less than the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 3,891. This is a 13% increase on the 3,458 social sector completions in the previous year.

Meanwhile, 3,206 social sector homes were started between January and March 2017; 59% more than the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 6,340. This is a 40% increase on the 4,538 social sector starts in the previous year.

More up-to-date figures show that, between April and June 2017, 819 social sector homes were completed (18% fewer than the 1,002 completions in the same quarter in 2016), and 588 were started (15% less than the same quarter in the previous year). This brings the total completions for the 12 months to end June 2017 to 3,708 (a 6% decrease on the 3,953 social sector homes completed in the previous year). Total starts over the 12 months to end June 2017 are now at 6,234 (32% more than the 4,714 started in the previous year).

New Build Housing - Housing Association Homes

There were 741 housing association completions between January and March 2017, 6% more than the 700 completions in the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 2,748, an 18% (428 homes) increase on the 2,320 completions over the previous year.

There were 2,917 housing association approvals between January and March 2017; 81% more than the 1,610 approvals in the same quarter in the previous year. This brings the total for the year to end March 2017 to 4,945. This is an increase of 70% (2,039 homes) on the 2,906 approvals in the previous year.

More up-to-date figures show that a total of 462 Housing Association homes were completed between April and June 2017, 38% less completions than in the same period in the previous year (746 homes). This brings the total completions for the 12 months to end June 2017 to 2,464, which is a decrease of 12% on the 2,803 homes completed in the previous year. A total of 426 Housing Association homes were approved between April and June 2017, 21% more than the 351 approvals in the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total approvals for the 12 months to end June 2017 to 5,020, a 63% increase on the 3,078 approvals in the previous year.

New Build Housing - Local Authority Homes

There were 326 local authority completions between January and March 2017, which is 18% less than the number that were completed in the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year ending March 2017 to 1,143. This is 5 homes (0% change) more than the 1,138 completions the previous year.

There were 289 local authority starts between January and March 2017; 28% lower than the number in the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for year ending March 2017 to 1,395. This is a 15% (237 homes) decrease on the 1,632 starts in the previous year.

More up-to-date figures show that, between April and June 2017, 357 local authority houses were completed (39% more homes than the same quarter in the previous year), and 162 were started (53% fewer homes than the same quarter in the previous year). This brings the total completions for the year to end June 2017 to 1,244, which is 8% more than the previous year. Total starts for the 12 months to end June 2017 now stands at 1,214 which is a decrease of 26% on the 1,636 local authority homes started in the previous year.

Affordable Housing Supply - up to end June 2017

Affordable Housing Supply Programme ( AHSP) statistics reflect the broader supply of affordable homes ( i.e. for social rent, affordable rent and affordable home ownership) and include off-the-shelf purchases and rehabilitations as well as new builds.

The latest statistics for the year to end June 2017 show that affordable housing supply completions have totalled 7,231, up 3% (210 homes) on the previous year. This includes increases in social rent completions (up by 2% or 80 homes), affordable home ownership completions (up by 3 homes), and affordable rent completions (up by 13% or 127 homes).

There were 10,612 affordable housing approvals over the year up to end June 2017, up by 30% or 2,471 homes compared to the previous year. This includes increases in social rent approvals (up by 37% or 1,917 homes), affordable rent approvals (up by 52% or 554 homes), and no change in affordable home ownership approvals.

There were 9,570 affordable houses started in the year to end June 2017, up by 17% or 1,392 homes compared to the previous year. This includes increases in social rent starts (up by 17% or 923 homes), and affordable rent starts (up by 63% or 604 homes), with a decrease in affordable home ownership starts (down 7% or 135 homes).

Quarterly affordable housing supply statistics are used to inform the Scottish Government target to deliver 50,000 affordable homes, including 35,000 homes for social rent, over the period 2016/17 to 2020/21.

Local Authority Right to Buy Applications and Sales

The Right to Buy scheme closed to all new applicants on 31 July 2016, therefore there were no Right to Buy applications made during the latest quarter January to March 2017. Throughout the year to end September 2016 there were 9,060 applications made, more than double the 3,890 applications made in the year to end September 2015.

Right to Buy sales can occur in a period later than that in which the application was made. In the latest quarter, January to March 2017, there were 971 Right to Buy sales, almost double the 507 sales in the same quarter in the previous year. Throughout the year to end March 2017 there were 2,994 sales, 73% more than the 1,735 sales in the year to end March 2016.