New Local Authority Lettings

During 2023-24, 25,423 permanent lettings were made. The number of permanent lettings increased (7.5% or 1,773 lets) compared to 2022-23.

Of all the local authority lettings made in 2023-24, 49% were to homeless households, 26% were to those on a housing waiting list, 21% were transfers to existing tenants, and 3% classified as other.

Chart 7 displays how the number of new local authority rentals has evolved over time and by source of tenant. There was a decline from 2001-02 to 2008-09, followed by stable levels from 2014-15 until the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. It is important to recognise that the change in number of rentals will also relate to changes in the overall local authority stock numbers as well as availability. Notably, the chart reveals an increasing share of permanent lettings going to homeless households, while the proportion going to those on a housing waiting list has decreased.

Chart 7: In 2001-02, 17% of permanent lettings were to homeless households (9,138), this has risen to 49% (or 12,553 households) in 2023-24.

There are geographical variations in the proportion of new permanent lettings by source of tenant, as illustrated in Chart 8. For example, lets to homeless households made up 67% of all permanent lettings in Edinburgh compared to 24% in Aberdeenshire.

Chart 8: The proportion of permanent local authority lettings by sources of tenant in 2023-24 varied in each local authority.

Further detailed figures are available in the local authority lettings Excel web tables.

The Scottish Government also publishes a range of information on Homelessness Statistics, including the number of lets for homeless households, collected through the HL1 return.