Half of occupied dwellings in Scotland fall below the housing quality standard a study has revealed as statistics showed that last year saw the lowest total of new housing supply since 2017–18.
Scottish Government statistics have revealed that in the period 2022-2024, an average of 55% of dwellings in Scotland failed the Scottish housing quality standard (SHQS).
Figures have been released on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, the condition of housing and other key descriptors of the occupied housing stock in Scotland at the local authority level.
The SHQS aims to ensure social landlords make sure their tenants’ homes are energy efficient, safe and secure, not seriously damaged and have kitchens and bathrooms that are in good condition.
The Scottish Government introduced a minimum housing standard in Scotland to try to make sure that no property ever falls below this level of standard.
However, many areas around Scotland had failure rates lower than the Scottish average; West Lothian at 42%, Clackmannanshire at 45%, East Dunbartonshire at 46% and Stirling at 49%.
Five local authorities had failure rates higher than the Scotland average: East Lothian at 66%; Argyll & Bute at 65%; Dumfries & Galloway at 65%; North Ayrshire at 63%; and Shetland Islands at 63%.
In the period 2022-2024, an average of 28% of dwellings in Scotland failed the tolerable standard.
Affected areas included: Highland at 21%; Fife at 20%; Moray at 20%; West Dunbartonshire at 20%; Shetland Islands at 19%; West Lothian at 18%; and Dundee City 17%.
The Scottish Government has also published data that shows while 9,779 homes were added to the housing stock in 2024–25, this was 628 fewer homes than in 2023–24.
The statistics show that 2024–25 was the lowest total of new housing supply since 2017–18, except for 2020–21, when Covid-19 pandemic restrictions impacted housebuilding.
Figures have also shown in the period 2022-2024, the fuel poverty rate in houses across Scotland varied from 22% in Stirling to 51% in the Orkney Islands compared to the average rate for Scotland of 31%.
In 2022-2024, eight local authorities had significantly higher fuel poverty rates than the national average.
These were: Orkney Islands at 51%; West Dunbartonshire at 43%; Na h-Eileanan Siar at 40%; Shetland Islands at 40%; Dumfries & Galloway at 38%; Dundee City at 38%; East Ayrshire at 38%; and Glasgow City at 35%.
Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our robust set of housing standards aim to ensure that homes are safe, habitable and properly maintained across all tenures.
“Social landlords are required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) to ensure tenants’ homes are in a good state of repair, energy efficient, healthy, safe and secure.
“Recent reports show that compliance with the SHQS increased to 87% in 2024/25.”