Local authority breakdowns

Chart 2 presents data by local authority and the type of vacant stock for 2024. It shows that Aberdeen City has the highest amount of stock vacant (2,300 units; 20% of Scotland’s total vacant stock). The majority (88%) of vacant stock in Aberdeen City was normal use stock.

Chart 2: Vacant local authority stock by normal use of stock, 2024

Table 2 and 3 illustrates how the annual change as well as vacancy rates vary by local authority. For example, the total vacancy rate in 2024 was highest in Renfrewshire (10.2%) and lowest in Moray (0.9%). As Chart 2 shows, over half (53%) of the vacant stock in Renfrewshire is vacant as it is awaiting demolition.

The highest vacancy rate for normal use stock was in Aberdeen City (9.0%) The rate in Aberdeen City has increased since 2020 (2.0%). Over this period, when looking at length of vacancy, Aberdeen City has seen an increase in properties vacant for 26 weeks to two years (6% in 2020 to 49% in 2024).

Edinburgh reported no vacant normal use stock as they are unable to identify stock that is going through the letting process but have reported there will be units going through this process. The lowest vacancy rate for normal use stock was in Moray (0.6%).

Numerically, North Lanarkshire saw the largest annual decrease in total vacant stock (-471 units; -34%) and Edinburgh saw then largest annual increase in vacant stock (361 units; 40%). In Edinburgh, the stock that is vacant is not useable for normal lettings as it is awaiting demolition or in need of modernisation.

Numerically, Angus saw the largest annual decrease in total normal use vacant stock (-100 units; -35%) and Aberdeen City saw then largest annual increase in normal use vacant stock (488 units; 32%).

Table 2: Total vacant local authority units, annual change, and total vacancy rate, by local authority, Scotland, 2024

Table 3: Normally available letting vacant stock, annual change, and total vacancy rate, by local authority, Scotland, 2024