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Housing statistics for Scotland - quarterly update
27/11/2009
Updated housing statistics have been released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.
The Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages include comprehensive time series data to allow in-depth analyses of housing activity in Scotland up to June 30, 2009 (and up to September 30, 2009 for social sector new build).
The main points to emerge are as follows:
New house building:
All Sectors
- there were 22 per cent fewer houses completed in the latest quarter (2009 Q2) than in the same quarter last year. Looking at the latest four quarters together there was a 17 per cent reduction in completions compared with the same quarters the previous year.
- there were 55 per cent fewer houses started in the latest quarter (2009 Q2) than in the same quarter last year. The latest four quarters together show there was a 41 per cent reduction in starts compared with the same quarters the previous year.
- the overall reduction in new house building has been driven by a decline in private sector building. In the social sector there has been a large increase in the number of new homes built.
Private Sector
- there were 33 per cent fewer private sector homes completed in the latest quarter (2009 Q2) than in the same quarter last year. Looking at the latest four quarters together there was a 27 per cent reduction in private sector completions compared with the same quarters the previous year.
- there were 62 per cent fewer private sector starts in the latest quarter (2009 Q2) than in the same quarter last year. The latest four quarters together show a 51 per cent reduction in private sector starts compared with the same quarters the previous year.
Affordable Homes (Affordable Housing Investment Programme - AHIP)
- there was a 71 per cent increase in AHIP completions in the latest quarter (2009 Q3) compared with the same quarter last year. There was a 35 per cent increase for the latest four quarters combined compared with the same period last year.
- The number of AHIP approvals/starts in the latest quarter (2009 Q3) was more than four times higher than in the same quarter last year. There were over 1,800 approvals in the latest quarter. There was a 24 per cent increase for the latest four quarters combined compared with the same period last year.
Local Authority Homes
- The number of local authority homes completed in the latest four quarters (to 2009 Q3) was four times higher than in the same period a year ago. 402 new homes were completed in the latest year.
- The number of local authority homes started in the latest four quarters was 84 per cent higher than the same period a year ago. 379 new homes were started in the latest year.
Sales of public authority dwellings:
- Sales of public authority dwellings fell by 61 per cent in the four quarters to 2009 Q2 compared to the same four quarters the previous year, from 5,666 to 2,225. This continues the declining trend in sales observed over recent years since the short-lived increase prior to introduction of the modernised Right to Buy, which came into effect on 30 September 2002.
- In the latest four quarters sales under preserved rights represented 90 per cent of sales to sitting tenants. However preserved rights sales fell by 62 per cent compared to the same quarters the previous year and those under modern terms fell by 32 per cent.
Rent Registration:
- The median registered rent was £61 per week in the latest quarter (2009 Q2). This was up from £59 per week in the same quarter the previous year and represents a continuation of an increasing trend.
The Housing Statistics for Scotland web tables replaced the quarterly Housing Trends in Scotland bulletins in November 2007. Web tables are updated regularly as new data becomes available.