Social housing in Scotland includes housing managed by public authorities (predominately councils) and housing associations (registered social landlords or RSLs).
Council housing stock levels have been decreasing each year since the 1980s. This is mainly due to tenants buying their homes under Right to Buy coupled with a decline in the number of new council houses being built, as well as community ownership programmes whereby a council transfers either all or part of its housing stock and management function to RSLs.
A Housing Act safeguards social housing for future generations by reforming the Right to Buy and improving value for tenants and taxpayers by modernising social housing regulation. As part of the Act the Scottish Social Housing Charter sets 16 standards and outcomes that all social landlords should be achieving for their tenants and other customers.
Information relating to Local Housing Allowance and other rent-related matters can be found either on the LHA Direct website or in the Private Renting topics section.
Further information on housing statistics is available.