Scottish House Condition Survey: Methodology Notes 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to provide information on the definition and methods of derivation of key indicators measured through the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) which apply to the reporting of 2023 data. It also provides an summary of the 2023 SHCS sample[1].

This document is periodically updated to reflect changes in definitions and methods used in SHCS reports. The last time substantial methodological changes were made was with the reporting of 2022 data, when there was an update to the tolerable standard, and fuel poverty estimates were published as accredited official statistics under the full definition as set out in the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 for the first time[2].

The 2023 Key Findings report includes an update to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard energy efficiency criteria. Previous reports assessed dwellings for energy efficiency compliance against SHQS criteria 31 to 34[3]. From 2023 dwellings are assessed against the EESSH1 criteria for compliance with the energy efficiency component of the SHQS. For completeness and to allow comparisons we have updated the time series from 2022 in the annex of this publication. For a full description of the changes see the Tolerable Standard methodology notes and the disrepair chapter of the main publication.

On August 22nd 2024 the results of the Housing section of the 2022 Scottish Census were published.Based on the results National Records of Scotland (NRS) produced a revision of estimated dwellings in Scotland. As these figures are used for the calibration weights of the SHCS we have updated our estimates of total households in the tables including time series data in this publication. See section 1.16 for a full description.