Homelessness in Scotland: 2024-25

How long does it take to complete the homelessness application process?

Key points in 2024-25

• It took 18 days on average for a homelessness case to be assessed: 2 days less than last year.
• It took 280 days on average from assessment to case closure for homeless households; an increase compared to 278 last year.

How long does it take for an application to be processed?

In 2024-25 it took 18 days on average for a case to be assessed following an application: two days shorter than 2023-24. The longest average time in 2024-25 was 41 days in East Renfrewshire – a decrease from 52 the previous year. Inverclyde and Perth & Kinross had the shortest average time of 10 days each.

Chart 14: Slight increase in average time to close homelessness cases in last year

Average time (in days) to close a homelessness case: 2002-03 to 2024-25

Edinburgh had the highest average of 682 days from assessment to case closure: though a decrease from 706 in 2023-24. Falkirk was the next highest at 457 days, a notable increase from 316 the previous year. Aberdeenshire had the lowest average at 58 days: a decrease from 69 days the previous year.

For households not assessed as homeless, where the local authority does not have a duty to provide temporary accommodation or permanent settled accommodation, the average time to close a case was 36 days. This is the same as last year, although there was an increase overtime (from 7 days in 2002-03). West Lothian was the highest (98 days compared to 88 the previous year).