High Level Summary of Statistics Trend
Tenure
Last update: November 2012
The last quarter of a century has seen a significant change in housing tenure. In 1981, less than 40% of dwelling stock was owner occupied. By 2011, this had risen to 61%. Although there has been a similar pattern of change across much of Europe, the change has been particularly dramatic in Scotland.
From 2001 privately owned vacant dwellings are shown separately. The number of vacant dwellings is not known prior to March 2001 and so these are included within owner occupied and rented privately. A version of this table which apportions vacant private dwellings between private renting and owner occupation is available upon request.
View chart data
Source: Scottish Government Communities Analytical Services (Housing Statistics)
Mirroring changes in cultural attitudes toward home ownership, two structural factors have contributed to this shift: the introduction of the right to buy for public authority tenants in 1979 coupled with the decline of public authority new build, and the increased contribution of private sector building.
Further Information
More information can be obtained from the Housing Statistics for Scotland - Key Information on-line information resource.