Local authority stock, March 2024

As of 31st March 2024, there were 325,477 local authority housing stock units, a similar number compared to March 2023 (+1%, +2,331 units). There were 11,751 local authority housing stock units vacant, also a similar number compared to the previous year (+0.9%, +107 units).

In total, 3.6% of the total local authority stock was vacant as of March 2024, however this includes stock that will be demolished or cannot be currently let as it needs modernisation.

The vacancy rate for stock used for temporary accommodation for the homeless is 10% compared with 1.9% for normal letting stock. There are several potential reasons for this:

• Higher turnover as the accommodation for homeless households, as this should only be temporary whilst waiting for a permanent housing solution.
• There needs to be stock of this type available to house people presenting as homeless with immediate effect.

Table 1: Local authority housing stock by use and number of vacant units, March 2024, Scotland

Note:

1. There were a further 221 housing stock units that local authorities could not categorise into the above categories (known as the ‘other’ category). There was also 1 vacant unit in the other category.

Table 1 shows the composition of vacant stock by type of use. It shows that just under half (48%) of vacant stock is in the category of normal letting stock, where it is likely the property is being prepared to be relet. However, only 1.9% of normal use stock is vacant. Most of the stock awaiting demolition and housing stock part of a modernisation program is vacant, which is to be expected.

As Chart 1 illustrates, the peak total vacant stock rate was in 2001 (4.0%) decreasing to 2.0% in 2017. Since 2017 there was an increase, reaching 3.6% in 2022 and remaining at that level in 2024.

In terms of normal letting stock, the vacant stock rate peaked in 2000 (1.9%) reaching the lowest point of 0.8% in 2017. Since 2017, the rate has increased to 1.9% in 2024.

Chart 1: Vacant stock rate, local authority stock, Scotland, 1998 to 2024

Note:

1. Normal use stock from 1998 to 2009 included a small number of units for other use than normal use. These have been excluded from 2010.