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Social Focus on Women and Men 2002

chapter two: Households and housing

The number of households in Scotland has risen significantly since the beginning of the 20th century. In December 2000 there were estimated to be 2.2 million households in Scotland compared with only 927 thousand in 1901.

Scotland's household structure is also changing - there are now increasing numbers of households with pensioners and many more single-person and lone-parent households.

Some of the main issues affecting people and their housing include family size and structure, housing type and tenure, and attitudes to the local neighbourhood.

As most household types are of mixed gender, analysis will focus on the single occupant households, which includes lone parents, single adults and single pensioners.

Table 2.1: Estimated proportion of households of each type, Scotland, 1991, 1996 & 1999/2000
Percentages

Source: Scottish House Condition Survey 1991, 1996, Scottish Household Survey 1999/2000, Scottish Executive
* indicates the percentage is <0.5%

Family Size & Household Type

The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2000, shows that of single person households, the majority are women. Women make up 75 per cent of single pensioner households; 93 per cent of lone parent households; and 45 per cent of single adult households.

The high proportion of female single pensioners can be attributed to the longer life expectancy of women compared with men. Within the single pensioner group, 77 per cent of women are widowed (66 per cent for men); 14 per cent have never been married (21 per cent for men); and 9 per cent are separated or divorced (13 per cent for men).

Within the single adult group, there are proportionally more women than men aged up to 24 years old. However between the ages 25 to 44 years, there are more men than women living by themselves. Between the ages 45 to 54, the numbers are equal however, from the age of 55 years and older, there are more single female households. The marital status of the single adults shows similar patterns for both women and men, with 57 per cent of women being single (60 per cent for men); and a further 32 per cent are divorced or separated (33 per cent for men).

For the lone parent group, who are nearly all women, 50 per cent are single or never married, and 44 per cent are divorced or separated.

Household projections show that although the numbers of 'single person' households is projected to rise, the split between women and men is projected to show little change. By 2012, the projected number of single male households is estimated to be 17 per cent, and the projected number of single female households, 21 per cent (Table 2.2).

Table 2.2: Households in Scotland by household type, 1998-2012
Percentages

Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics Branch
Note: Figures based on 1998 projections.

Employment

The Labour Force Survey shows employment rates from 1996 through to 2001 increasing by 9 percentage points for lone parents. At Spring 2001, the employment rate for single parents stands at 53 per cent. Ninety per cent of couples with dependant children in the household have at least one person in the household in employment (Table 2.3). The overall increase in the rate of employment for lone parents, who are mostly women, is due to the fact that more and more women are coming into the workforce than before. The most common reason for not working cited by lone parents is family commitments.

Table 2.3: Employment Rates by family type, Scotland, 1996 & 2001
Percentages

Source: Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
Note: Employment rates based on head of family unit, and includes the population aged 16 and older.
Note: Data relates to Spring Quarters.

Adults Living With Parents

The Scottish Household Survey 1999, shows that 46 per cent of men from the 20-24 age group were living with their parents. This compares with 40 per cent of women in the same age category. This difference is partially explained by the lower age at marriage of women (General Register Office for Scotland, Annual Report, 1999).

By the age range 30-34 however, it is estimated that 7 per cent of men remain living with their parents.

Housing Tenure by Household Type

Since 1981, more and more people have begun to own their own property. The 'Right to Buy' scheme whereby tenants of public sector organisations could buy their own homes, was aimed at addressing the increasing demand of people wanting to own their homes.

The SHS for 2000 shows significant differences between the single adult household types and housing tenure. Looking at ownership (including those currently buying their homes) for the single adult group, 45 per cent own their home, with a further 53 per cent renting properties. Within this the rates for ownership vary: 24 per cent of lone parents; 48 per cent of single adult households; and 50 per cent of single pensioners.

There are gender differences apparent in the tenure breakdown: of the single adult group 51 per cent of women own their home and 47 per cent rent properties (46 per cent and 52 per cent for men); of the single pensioner group 49 per cent of women own their home and 48 per cent rent (compared with 52 per cent and 46 per cent for men); and for lone parents 24 per cent own their home and 75 per cent rent properties. Gender splits are not available for the lone parent group (due to the small sample sizes for men), however 93 per cent of this group are women.

Housing Type by Household Type

The type of housing people live in is partly influenced by the location. Moreover, flats tend to be more common among the rented sector than in the owner occupied sector. The Scottish Household Survey for 2000 found 55 per cent of lone parents, 62 per cent of single adults and 46 per cent of single pensioners occupy flats/maisonettes. One reason for this is the fact that flats are usually available for rent, and can be a cheaper form of housing.

Households containing people with long-term illness and disability

In 2000, 29 per cent of households in Scotland contained at least one person with a long-standing illness or disability that limits their daily activity. When disaggregated by gender, there are no significant differences between men and women. When asked if there is anyone in the household that requires regular help or care because they are sick, disabled, or elderly 12 per cent of adults responded yes. Again, there are no significant differences between the genders, with 11 per cent of men requiring help or care, compared with 12 per cent women. The household types most likely to contain individuals(s) with a disability are the 'older smaller' and 'single pensioner' households (Table 2.4).

Table 2.4: Percentage of the population who need regular help or care due to long-standing illness or disability, 2000
percentage

Source: Scottish Household Survey 2000
Note: Population refers to adult population aged 16 and older, living in private homes
This is the percentage of people with long term illness or disability, and records details for all household members.

Of those members of the population who have a long-standing illness or disability, females are more likely to report experiencing difficulty with housework, difficulty using a bus or train, or have difficulty climbing stairs than men. Men were less likely to report experiencing difficulty with daily tasks even though they had a long-standing illness or disability. This may reflect the fact that there are significantly more older women than men living independently (Table 2.5).

Table 2.5: Percentage of the population with long-standing illness or disability, by activity which they find difficult, and gender of the person withlong-standing illness or disability
Percentage

Source: Scottish Household Survey 2000
Note: Percentages will not sum to 100, as respondents can give multiple responses. Population refers to adult population aged 16 and older, living in private homes

Just over a quarter of adults (27 per cent) that reported having a long-standing illness or disability, have adaptations to their housing to help them manage independently, such as ramps, stairlifts, or other specialist equipment. The likelihood of having such equipment increases with age, to 50 per cent of those aged 75 years and older. Although there are more women than men who currently have a longstanding illness or disability who have adaptations to their homes, this may be explained by the fact that there are significantly more single female pensioners (given the longer life expectancy of women in Scotland), and it is the older age groups that are more likely to require adaptations. The Scottish Household Survey (2000) reports that of those who currently have adaptations to their homes, 66 per cent were women. Women are slightly more likely to have a walking frame, handrails, special utensils, and bath or shower seats (Table 2.6).

Table 2.6: Percentage of the population with a long-standing illness or disability who currently have special equipment or adaptations to the home to help them manage independently, by gender of the person with long-standing illness or disability
Percentage

Source: Scottish Household Survey 2000 n=1183
Note: Percentages will not sum to 100, as respondents can give multiple responses. Population refers to adult population aged 16 and older, living in private homes

Not all people with long-standing illness or disability have or need adaptations to their home or special equipment. Of those who said they required special equipment or adaptations to their homes to make independent living easier, 61 per cent were women. Again, this may reflect the fact there are significantly more single female pensioners. The most common adaptations required, for both women and men, are handrails, bath and shower seats, and adapted toilet seats.

Attitudes to Neighbourhood

The Scottish Household Survey collects data on people's attitudes to their neighbourhood. Random adults are questioned on a variety of indicators. In terms of how people rate their neighbourhood as a place to live, 92 per cent rate their neighbourhood as a very good or fairly good place to live in the year 2000. There are no significant differences between gender or household type: women are more likely to rate the neighbourhood as very good, while men are more likely to rate it as a fairly good place to live, although the differences are small.

In terms of the particular aspects of their neighbourhood that people like, there are no significant gender differences. Overall, people like the fact their neighbourhood was quiet and peaceful, good neighbours, convenient shops and amenities, and the friendly people. Women are slightly more likely to rate good neighbours as important, compared with men (Table 2.7).

Table 2.7: Aspects of the neighbourhood that people particularly like, by gender, 2000
Percentage

Source: Scottish Household Survey 2000
Note: Population refers to adult population aged 16 and older, living in private homes

Similarly with aspects of their neighbourhood that people like, there are no apparent gender differences in aspects of their neighbourhood that people dislike. Of the aspects listed, young people hanging about or a lack of facilities for young people was rated as the main problem by both women and men (Table 2.8).

Table 2.8: Aspects of the neighbourhood that people particularly dislike, by gender, 2000
Percentage

Source: Scottish Household Survey 2000
Note: Population refers to adult population aged 16 and older, living in private homes

The aspect of the neighbourhood that more men and women rate as a very or fairly common problem was that of groups of young people hanging about. For both men and women, 30 per cent of those questioned rate this as a problem. As with the other data on attitudes to neighbourhood, there are no apparent gender differences.

Homelessness

The primary statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness rests with local authorities. However, the Scottish Executive reports on the operation of the homeless persons legislation in Scotland. In 1999-2000 46,000 homeless applications were made by households (some households applying more than once during the year): 36 per cent of these were in Glasgow and Edinburgh cities. Sixty two per cent of all applications in Scotland are from single person households in comparison to 26 per cent from lone parent households. The remaining applications were made up of 'couple' and 'other' household types.

Overall, amongst the single person applicant households, the majority of applicants were male (69 per cent) with 39 per cent of all single applicants in the '25 and over but under retirement age' group. A further 21 per cent of all single person applicants were men in the 18 to 24 age group.

Twenty six per cent (11,900) of all applications were made by lone parent households. In this category, the majority of applications are from women (88 per cent). Seventy three per cent of female applicants were in the 'parent aged 25 and over' group.

From the applications assessed as in priority need, the main reason for the loss or threatened loss of accommodation for men was that friends or relatives were no longer willing or able to accommodate them, while for women the main reason was a dispute with their spouse or cohabitee (violent or non-violent).

Rooflessness

Rooflessness is the term used where people literally 'sleep rough' on the streets. The Scottish Executive has pledged to end the need to sleep rough by 2003 and to achieve this it has increased the funding made available to the Rough Sleepers Initiative. The first stage of the monitoring exercise, conducted during 9th - 15th May 2001, found that the daily average number of people who had slept rough the night before was 64. Forty five (70 per cent) are aged between 25 and 40. In terms of gender, 54 (84 per cent) were men and 10 (16 per cent) were women.

References and further reading

Scotland's People: Results from the 1999/2000 Scottish Household Survey, Volume 3, Annual Report, Scottish Executive
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00115/00115-p1.pdf

Scottish Household Survey Bulletin No.4, 2000, Scottish Executive
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/shs/docs/shs4-00.asp

Scottish Social Statistics 2001, Scottish Executive
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/sss

1999 Annual Report of the Registrar General for Scotland, General Register Office for Scotland
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/grosweb/grosweb.nsf/pages/99sect7

1998 Based Household Projections for Scotland, Scottish Executive
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00019-00.asp

Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
http://www.statistics.gov.uk

Contacts

Telephone contact points for further information relating to Chapter 2, Households and Families:

Scottish Executive

Chapter Author
Jill Morton
0131 244 0443
jillian.morton@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Housing Statistics
Deborah Pegg
0131 244 7235
deborah.pegg@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Labour Market Statistics
Elaine Drennan
0141 242 5451
elaine.drennan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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