Scottish House Condition Survey: 2023 Key Findings

5 Housing Conditions

Key Points

• Disrepair to critical elements, which are central to weather-tightness, structural stability and preventing deterioration of the property, stood at 45% in 2023. Less than half of these (16% of all dwellings) had urgent disrepair to critical elements and just 2% had extensive disrepair (covering at least a fifth of the element area) to critical elements.
• Overall, this is an improvement of 3 percentage points compared to 2022, when 49% of dwellings had disrepair to critical elements. The 2023 rate is the lowest since 2012.
• 18% of dwellings had disrepair to non-critical elements only, with 3% of dwellings requiring some urgent repair to non-critical elements, and 1% having extensive disrepair to non-critical elements.
• Levels of mould, damp and condensation were similar to those seen in 2022: 90% of properties were free from any damp or condensation and 90% were free from mould.
• Following the 2022 census the National Records of Scotland (NRS) revised their household estimates for the 2012 to 2022 period. For Scotland as a whole there was a downward revision which increased over time, from 0.2% in 2012 (-3,590 households) to 1.4% (-34,478 households) in 2022. In order to account for this we have updated the time series estimates in our tables in this publication to incorporate the revised 2012 to 2022 household estimates. Therefore direct comparisons with reported household figures in previous SHCS Annual Reports and this report should not be made. See section 1.1.6 of the methodological and technical notes for a full description.

5.2 Disrepair

The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) measures disrepair for a wide range of different building elements ranging from aspects of roofs and walls, to chimney stacks, internal rooms, and common parts of shared buildings like access balconies, and entry doors.

This is reported in two categories:

• Critical elements. This refers to disrepair to building elements central to weather-tightness, structural stability and preventing deterioration of the property, such as roof coverings or the structure of external walls. These elements are listed in section 2.7.1 of the Methodological and Technical notes.
• Non-critical elements. This relates to any damage to a non-critical element (such as skirtings and internal wall finishes, staircases, boundary fences or attached garages) which requires some repair beyond routine maintenance.

Elements in both of the above categories can be assessed according to the severity of disrepair, as follows:

• Urgent disrepair. This relates only to external and common elements (a mixture of critical and non-critical). Urgent disrepair to these elements is recorded where immediate repair is required to prevent further deterioration to the building fabric or health and safety risks to occupants. Not all disrepair to critical elements is necessarily considered urgent by the surveyor. Internal room floor structures and floor finishes as well as internal walls and the presence of dry / wet rot are the only critical elements for which urgency is not applicable.
• Extensive disrepair. Damage which covers at least a fifth (20%) or more of the building element area. This can apply to any element whether critical or otherwise.

Disrepair, which is not to a critical element, is not urgent or extensive, is referred to as basic. This is the minimum category of disrepair in the survey. 

More detailed description of the categories of disrepair is given in section 2.7 of the Methodological and Technical notes.

It is fairly common for dwellings to display elements of disrepair in more than one category. The SHCS surveyor manual provides guidance for our surveyors on assessing the type and severity of disrepair for each element, for example:

• A leaking tap in the bathroom (disrepair to a non-critical element).
• A large section (covering over 20% of the area) of the render on an external wall has broken off but is not considered an urgent repair by the surveyor (extensive disrepair to a critical element).
• A small area of guttering is damaged, causing rain water to pour down an external wall surface. This is marked as urgent by the surveyor as it is likely to lead to further damage and compromise the weather-proofing of the building in the short term (urgent disrepair to a critical element).

This is illustrated in Infographic 5.1

Infographic 5.1: Number of dwellings to display elements of disrepair in more than one category, 2023. 

Infographic 5.1 is an upset plot which shows the overlap of different types of disrepair in Scottish dwellings graphically. The vertical axis shows the number of dwellings with different combinations of disrepair. For example, 446,000 (18%) had urgent disrepair (to any element) as well as disrepair to critical elements, while 61,000 dwellings (2%) had disrepair to critical elements as well as urgent and extensive disrepair (to any elements), and 34,000 dwellings (1%) had extensive disrepair (to any element) and disrepair critical elements. The horizontal axis shows the total number of dwellings within each type of disrepair including overlaps between groups. For example, 1.15 million dwellings had disrepair to a critical element (45%) while 119,000 (5%) dwellings were recorded as having some extensive disrepair.

It should be noted that where categories overlap in the above figure, this means that the properties have instances of each type of disrepair. However, this may be to different elements. For example, 18% of properties have disrepair to critical elements and urgent disrepair. This can include properties where disrepair to an element (e.g. guttering) is both critical and urgent as well as properties which have critical disrepair to one element (e.g. external wall finish) and urgent disrepair to another (e.g. flashings).

Notes: [note 10] [note 11]

5.1.1 Rates of Disrepair

Levels of disrepair to critical elements decreased from 49% in 2022 to 45% in 2023.

Figure 5.1: Percentage of dwellings with disrepair to critical elements, 2012-2023Description of figure 5.1

Figure 5.1 provides details of rates of disrepair over time for dwellings with disrepair to critical elements. In 2023, disrepair to critical elements stood at 45% of all dwellings. Less than half, 16% of all dwellings, had instances of urgent disrepair to these critical elements and only 2% of dwellings had extensive disrepair to one or more critical elements. These dwellings may also have other instances of disrepair (including urgent and extensive) to non-critical elements.

Overall, this is an improvement of 4 percentage points on 2022, when 49% of dwellings had disrepair to critical elements and a 16 percentage point improvement on the 61% recorded in 2012. The 2023 rate is the lowest since 2012.

Data Source: Table HC2a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 10] [note 11] [note 12]

In 2023, 18% of dwellings had disrepair only to non-critical elements.

Figure 5.2: Percentage of dwellings with disrepair only to non-critical elements, 2012-2023Description of figure 5.2

Figure 5.2 shows the rates of disrepair over time for dwellings with disrepair to non-critical elements only. In 2023, 18% of dwellings had disrepair only to non-critical elements, with 3% of dwellings requiring some urgent repair to non-critical elements, and 1% having extensive disrepair to non-critical elements. This trend has been broadly stable since 2017.

Data Source: Table HC2a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 10] [note 11]

In 2023, 23% of properties had some instances of urgent disrepair.

Figure 5.3: Percentage of dwellings with any disrepair 2012-2023Description of figure 5.3

Urgent and extensive disrepair can apply to both critical and non-critical elements. Figure 5.3 shows the rates of this type of disrepair regardless of element type. In 2023, 23% of properties had some instances of urgent disrepair, which is lowest rate on record since 2012. In 2023, 5% of the housing stock had some extensive disrepair present, an improvement from 9% in 2012.

Data Source: Table HC3a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 10] [note 11]

5.1.2 Disrepair to Critical Elements

This section examines in more detail disrepair to critical elements (affecting 45% of dwellings in 2023) and its prevalence across tenure, dwelling age bands and location.

As shown above in Infographic 5.1, in some of those dwellings with disrepair to critical elements there was also some urgent disrepair (not necessarily to the same element, or the critical elements), accounting for 20% of the housing stock.

In 2023, 2% of the housing stock, in addition to the presence of disrepair to critical elements and urgent disrepair, had some disrepair to the property assessed as extensive.

5.1.2.1 Dwelling age and location

The prevalence of disrepair to critical elements is associated with age of construction.

Figure 5.4: Disrepair to critical elements by dwelling age, 2022 and 2023Description of figure 5.4

The prevalence of disrepair to critical elements is associated with age of construction, with newer dwellings significantly less likely to fall within this category. Figure 5.4 shows that dwellings built pre-1919 have a rate of disrepair to critical elements of 62%, with 28% having urgent disrepair to critical elements. Comparatively dwellings built after 1982 have lower rates of disrepair to critical elements at 24%, with 6% also having urgent disrepair to critical elements. This is also evident where instances of disrepair to critical elements co-exist with urgent disrepair to critical elements, a pattern which has remained unchanged since 2022.

The rate of disrepair to critical elements for dwellings built pre-1919 decreased from 71% in 2022 to 62% in 2023. Similarly, the rate for dwellings built between 1919 and 1944 decreased from 65% in 2022 to 57% in 2023. Conversely, the rate of urgent disrepair to critical elements remained similar between 2022 and 2023 at a national level.

Data Source: Table HC4 in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 10] [note 11] [note 12]

In 2023, rates of disrepair to critical elements were similar between urban and rural areas for most categories

Figure 5.5: Disrepair to critical elements by dwelling location, 2022 and 2023Description of figure 5.5

In 2023, rates of disrepair were similar between urban and rural areas for most of the categories shown, however rates of urgent disrepair to one or more critical elements were higher in rural areas (19%) than urban areas (16%).

The above figures consider the presence of critical, urgent, and extensive disrepair within a dwelling. However, these do not necessarily apply to the same elements in every case.

Data Source: Table HC4 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 1] [note 10] [note 11] [note 12]

Table HC4 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’  provides further breakdowns for those dwellings which have urgent disrepair or extensive disrepair to one or more critical elements. In general the prevalence of extensive disrepair to critical elements is associated with age of construction, with newer post 1982 dwellings (1%) significantly less likely to fall within this category than pre 1919 dwellings (4%).

5.1.2.2 Tenure

In 2023, levels of disrepair to critical elements differ by housing tenure.

Figure 5.6: Disrepair to critical elements by tenure, 2022 and 2023Description of figure 5.6

As shown in Figure 5.6 housing association dwellings tend to have amongst the lowest levels (around 37%) of any disrepair to critical elements a similar rate to 2022. However, following a 4 percentage point reduction between 2022 and 2023 the rate for Owner Occupiers (41%) was found to be similar to Housing Association dwellings. Conversely, Private rented sector and Local Authority properties have higher levels of disrepair to critical elements, 59% of private rented dwellings and 57% of local authority dwellings, similar rates to 2022 in both cases.

Data Source: Table HC5 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 10] [note 11] [note 12]

5.1.2.3 Type of Disrepair to Critical Elements

As shown in Infographic 5.2 although some disrepair to critical elements is fairly common it tends to be at a relatively low level in each property, affecting on average (median) 2.5% of the relevant area. A full list of elements in this category is provided in section 2.7.1 of the Methodological and Technical notes along with details of how the extent of disrepair is recorded in the survey for each type, and how an average extent is calculated.

Infographic 5.2: The number of dwellings affected and average (median) extent of disrepair to external critical elementsDescription of infographic 5.2

Wall finish, gutters / downpipes, roof coverings and chimney stacks are often affected. Around 24% of dwellings had some disrepair to wall finish, 13% had some disrepair to gutters / downpipes, 14% had some disrepair to roof coverings- and 21% to chimney stacks; however, in all four cases the average (median) disrepair covered around 2.5% of the area. Where stone pointing, render or harling on walls is damaged, moisture can seep into the structure of the walls and cause further damage. Similarly slipped roof tiles or slates can allow water to access the roof structure or the tops of internal walls. Unchecked disrepair to chimney stacks can lead to water ingress and eventually falling masonry.

Data Source: Table HC6 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 12] [note 13] [note 14]

5.1.3 Damp, Mould and Condensation

The definitions of mould, damp and condensation are provided in section 2.8 of the Methodological and Technical notes.

Condensation, rising or penetrating damp, or mould recorded in the SHCS can cover anything from a small damp patch or area of condensation on a single wall in one room (caused for example by ineffective ventilation whilst cooking) to prevalence throughout the entire dwelling. Therefore it does not indicate a serious housing quality issue in all cases.

The incidence of these defects in isolation and together is given in Figure 5.7.

In 2023, around 90% of all dwellings in Scotland were free from mould.

Figure 5.7: Presence of damp, mould and condensation, 2012 to 2023.Description of figure 5.7

Around 90% of all dwellings in 2023 were free from any form of condensation or damp. This rate has been stable in recent years but represents an overall improvement from 86% in 2012. Similarly, 90% of all dwellings were free from mould in 2023. This rate has been stable in recent years but represents an overall improvement from 88% in 2012.

In 2023, 3% of the housing stock (around 76,000 dwellings) suffered from some degree of penetrating damp. The presence of penetrating damp has fluctuated between 2% and 4% across the past 10 years of the survey. There were a very small number of properties with rising damp in the survey sample in 2023, suggesting that their share in the housing stock is less than 0.5%. Condensation was observed in 8% of the surveyed stock (around 215,000 dwellings) which is similar to recent years. Although this represents a reduction from 11% in 2012. Breakdowns of the prevalence of mould and damp by housing characteristics are available in an interactive dashboard

Data Source: Table HC7a in  ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

5.2 Housing Quality Standards

Key Points

• In 2023, 27% (or 694,000) of all dwellings fell below the Tolerable Standard in 2023, similar to 2022.
• In 2022, two new below tolerable standard criteria were introduced (assessing the presence, type, and condition of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms) leading to a sharp increase in the proportion of below tolerable standard dwellings from 2% in 2019 to 29% in 2022.
• The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) failure rate in the social sector was 38%. Failures of the Energy Efficient criterion were the biggest driver of failures overall. In 2023, 26% of social sector properties did not meet the Energy Efficient criterion.
• The SHQS failure rate in the private sector was 60% and is driven primarily by failures of the Below Tolerable Standard criterion (34%) and the Energy Efficient criterion (35%).
• The majority of dwellings falling below the SHQS failed on a single criterion; this accounted for more than 8 out of 10 failures in the social sector.
• For 74% of social homes failing the SHQS this was due to falling short on just one of the 55 elements which make up the standard.

5.2.1 Housing Standards

Two housing quality standards are set by the Scottish Government and monitored through the Scottish House Condition Survey. These are:

• The Tolerable Standard. A "condemnatory" standard which means that it is not reasonable to expect people to continue to live in a house that falls below it.
• The Tolerable Standard was amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019 and from 2022 includes a new element covering smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms.

For more information on the Tolerable Standard see section 2.10 of the Methodological and Technical notes.

• The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). This was introduced in February 2004 and means social landlords must make sure their tenants' homes are in a good state of repair, energy efficient, healthy, safe and secure. A target was agreed that all social landlords must ensure that all their dwellings pass the SHQS by April 2015[1].
• Private owners and private landlords are currently under no obligation to bring their properties up to this standard. However, SHCS collects the same data for all dwellings to allow comparison across the housing stock.
• Since 2012 this target has been incorporated in the Scottish Social Housing Charter and the performance of landlords has been monitored by the independent Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR). For more information on the SHQS see section 2.11 of the Methodological and Technical notes.

5.2.2 Tolerable Standard

In 2023, 27% of all dwellings (around 694,000) fell below the tolerable standard.

Figure 5.8: Dwellings below tolerable standard (BTS), 2012 to 2023Description of figure 5.8

Figure 5.8 shows that in 2023, 27% of all dwellings in Scotland fell below the tolerable standard, similar to 2022. The sharp increase in the proportion of below tolerable standard dwellings from 2% in 2019 to 29% in 2022, is due to the two new below tolerable standard criteria that were introduced in 2022 (assessing the presence, type and condition of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms).

Data Source: Table HC8 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15]

In 2023, 34% of private sector and 8% of social sector dwellings fell below tolerable standard.

Figure 5.9: Dwellings below tolerable standard (BTS) by tenure, 2023Description of figure 5.9

As shown in Figure 5.9 the 34% of dwellings in the private sector fell below the tolerable standard, higher than the social sector at 8%. Looking at the private sector in a more disaggregated way we see that the proportion of owned outright and mortgaged dwellings failing the tolerable standard was similar at 35% and 36% respectively, while the rate for private rented sector dwellings was lower at 27%. The difference between the private rented sector and owner occupier failure rates is likely due to smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors being required for private rented properties under the Tolerable standard criteria of the Repairing Standard.

However, the Tolerable Standard was updated in 2022 to include new elements covering smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms. As this is a somewhat recent update this may help to explain why compliance is not yet higher in the private rented sector. 

Similar to rates of disrepair the proportion of dwellings estimated below tolerable standard was higher for older dwellings, 37% for pre-1919 dwellings compared to 23% for post 1965 dwellings.

Data Source: Table HC9a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15]

Dwellings which failed the tolerable standard in 2023 most commonly did so because they failed the two criteria assessing the presence, type and condition of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms.

Figure 5.10: Below tolerable standard (BTS) dwellings by individual tolerable standard criteria failures, 2023Description of figure 5.10

Figure 5.10 shows that of the 694,000 dwellings which failed the tolerable standard in 2023 the majority failed due to the two criteria assessing the presence, type and condition of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms.

• 81% of below tolerable standard dwellings (around 562,000 dwellings) did not have satisfactory equipment for detecting and warning in the event of fire.
• 59% of below tolerable standard dwellings (around 407,000 dwellings) did not have satisfactory equipment for warning against high levels of carbon monoxide.

Other reasons causing dwellings to fail the tolerable standard in 2023 were:

• not free from rising/penetrating damp[2] (15,000 or 2% of BTS dwellings)

• unsafe electrical systems (3,000 or 1% of BTS dwellings)

Data Source: Table HC10 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15] 

5.2.3 Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS)

The SHQS is made up of 55 different elements grouped into 5 higher-level criteria:

• Tolerable Standard (A),
• Serious Disrepair (B),
• Energy Efficiency (C),
• Modern Facilities and Services (D)
• and Healthy, Safe and Secure (E).

In the SHCS 54 of the 55 individual elements are assessed by surveyors trained to collect detailed information on housing characteristics. Only one element is not assessed using SHCS data: no information is collected on external noise insulation[3]. The data collected is subsequently aggregated by Scottish Government analysts into higher level measures for each of the 5 criteria and the standard overall.

On January  2021, the energy efficiency criterion of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) was replaced by the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH).[4]

Under this change, in order to meet the Energy Efficiency criterion of the SHQS, social dwellings are no longer required to specifically meet the previous SHQS criteria C31 to C34b[5]. Instead social dwellings now must  meet minimum SAP ratings based on their fuel and/or dwelling type, as laid out in Table 5.1 and Table 5.2. However, meeting the previous criteria will help achieve the new minimum required SAP ratings[6].

Table 5.1: EESSH 1  Minimum SAP ratings for households using gas or electricity

Dwelling Type	SAP 2009 Gas	SAP 2009 Electric	SAP 2012 Gas	SAP 2012 Electric
Flats	69	65	69	63
Four-in-a-block	65	65	65	62
Houses (other than detached)	69	65	69	62
Detached	60	60	60	57

Table 5.2: EESSH 1 Minimum SAP ratings for households using other fuels

Fuel	SAP 2009	SAP 2012
Oil	54	47
Liquid Petroleum Gas	63	59
Solid Fuel	63	60
Biomass	64	65

In 2023 the Energy Efficiency Criterion of the SHQS is assessed against the EESSH 1 criteria. However, when producing the 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) key findings report, the SHQS criteria was analysed using the previous energy efficiency criterion C31- C34b of the SHQS.

Therefore the statistics in the 2022 key findings report reflect the SHQS criteria prior to the implementation of EESSH.

In order to present a complete analysis we have re analysed the 2022 SHQS data and updated the 2022 figures in the accompanying excel tables for this chapter. We have also produced a comparison to the previous criteria (based on 2022 data) of updated failure rates for the energy efficiency criteria of the SHQS based on the EESSH criteria, as well as overall failures by key variables in Annex A.  For more information on the SHQS see section 2.11 of the Methodological and Technical notes.

In 2023, 55% of dwellings failed to meet the SHQS.

Figure 5.11: Dwellings failing SHQS, 2010 to 2023Description of figure 5.11

Figure 5.11 shows the overall results for the Scottish housing stock, covering the period 2010 to 2023. In 2023, the SHQS failure rate was 55%, an improvement from 58% in 2022. Similar to overall failure rates of the tolerable standard, the introduction of the two new below tolerable standard criteria in 2022, led to a sharp increase in the proportion of dwellings failing to meet the SHQS from 43% in 2019 to 58% in 2022.

Data Source: Table HC11a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15] [note 16]

In 2023, the highest failure rate was with respect to the Not Energy Efficient criterion (33%) followed by the BTS criterion (27%).

Figure 5.12: Dwellings failing SHQS individual criteria, 2010 to 2023Description of figure 5.12

As in previous years, the highest failure rate was with respect to the not Energy Efficient criterion at 33%. However this is lower than the 2022 rate of 36%. In 2023 the proportion of dwellings which did not meet the BTS criterion was 27%, similar to 2022.

The failure rate for the Healthy, Safe and Secure criterion (9%), and for Modern Facilities (7%), were similar to 2022 rates while the Serious Disrepair[7] criterion (1%) fell slightly from 2022.

Data Source: Table HC11a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15] [note 16]

5.2.3.1 Compliance with SHQS by Tenure, Dwelling Age and Location

The overall SHQS failure rate in 2023 stood at 38% for the social sector  and 60% for the private sector.

Figure 5.13: Dwellings failing SHQS by dwelling characteristic, 2023Description of figure 5.13

Figure 5.13 shows the proportion of properties failing the SHQS by selected characteristics. The lowest failure rates are found in the newest dwellings (post-1982, 32%) and in Housing Associations stock (30%). As previously shown (see Figure 1.15), Housing Association dwellings are often newer than Local Authority stock (which had a higher failure rate of 43%) and are therefore usually built to a higher energy efficiency standard. The newest purpose-built social housing in Scotland is also likely to be designed to comply with the SHQS.

The overall SHQS failure rate for social sector housing in 2023 stood at 38%, lower than the private sector at 60%.

Data Source: Table HC12a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15]

5.2.3.2 Individual SHQS Criteria

Failure rates for each criterion of the SHQS for private and social sector housing since 2010 are available in Table HC13 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’.

As shown in Figure 5.12 between 2010 and 2017, there was a consistent trend of falling rates of SHQS failures, which then remained similar between 2018 and 2019. Although in some cases the survey sample is not large enough to measure accurately year-on-year changes for each criterion. In 2022, the sharp increase in Below Tolerable Standard (BTS) criterion failure and SHQS failures overall is due to the introduction of two new BTS criteria.

In 2023, the highest failure rates in the private sector were with respect to the not Energy Efficient criterion (35%), and the BTS criterion (34%). Comparatively in the social sector it was the not Energy Efficient criterion (26%).

Figure 5.14: SHQS criteria failure rates by tenure, 2023Description of figure 5.14

The SHCS estimates that 38% of social sector housing failed to meet the SHQS in 2023. This was predominantly due to the not Energy Efficient criterion, where 26% of properties failed. Other failure rates were lower with 8% failing the Below Tolerable Standard criterion, while 5% failed the Healthy, Safe and Secure criterion and 6% failed the Modern Facilities criterion. A small proportion (1%) failed the Serious Disrepair criterion.

If the SHQS applied to private sector housing, around 60% would have failed to meet it in 2023. This would be primarily due to 34% of the properties failing to meet the Below Tolerable Standard criterion and 35% failing to meet the Energy Efficient criterion. Additionally, 10% of the properties would also fail the Healthy, Safe and Secure criterion and 7% would fail the Modern Facilities criterion. A small proportion (1%) would fail the Serious Disrepair criterion.

Data Source: Table HC13 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15]

5.2.3.3 Number of Criteria and Elements Failing

In the large majority of cases failure to meet the SHQS is due to a dwelling not passing one criterion or even a single element. As the standard incorporates 55 different elements, it is generally sufficient for a dwelling to fail on a single one of these in order to be considered not satisfying the higher level criterion requirement and the SHQS overall[8].

In 2023, the majority of SHQS failures were due to a single criterion.

Figure 5.15: Proportion of dwellings by number of SHQS criteria failures and sector in 2023Description of figure 5.15

Figure 5.15 presents the distribution of dwellings by number of criteria failed and tenure. The majority of failures in 2023 were due to a single criterion: 37% for the whole stock, 40% for private sector, and 30% for social sector dwellings.

Data Source: Table HC14a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Since 2010, the majority of failures in both the private and social sector were due to failure on a single SHQS criterion.

Figure 5.16: Proportion of dwellings by numbers of SHQS criteria failures and sector, 2010 to 2023Description of figure 5.16

Figure 5.16 shows the distribution of dwellings for the private and social sector by number of criteria failed. Since 2010, the majority of failures in both private and social sector dwellings is due to a single criterion.

In 2023, 40% of private sector dwellings, and 30% of social sector dwellings failed due to not passing one SHQS criterion.

Data Source: Table HC14a in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15] [note 16]

In 2023, 57% of dwellings failing the SHQS did so because of a single element.

Figure 5.17: Proportion of dwellings failing the SHQS by numbers of SHQS elements failed and sector, 2023Description of figure 5.17

Figure 5.17 presents the distribution of dwellings failing the SHQS by number of elements failed and sector. The majority of failures in 2023 were due to a single element failure: 53% of private sector, 74% for the social sector, and 57% of all failing dwellings failed due to 1 element.

In the Social sector the most common single element failure was in relation to the EESSH criteria, 72% of all single element failures, followed by Carbon monoxide alarms which accounted for 5% of single element failures.

In the Private sector the most common single element failure was in relation to the EESSH criteria, 61% of all single element failures. This was followed by fire alarms, 21% and Carbon monoxide alarms, 8% of single element failures respectively.

Data Source: Table HC15 in ‘SHCS 2023- Chapter 05 Housing Conditions - tables and figures’

Notes: [note 15] [note 16]